Small skipper Thymelicus sylvestris
- Resident, rough grassland, common
- Adults: June-August
- Larval foodplants: grasses, Yorkshire fog Holcus lanatus
- Range: England and Wales north to Scottish border
- Status since 1970's : slight increase
Large skipper Ochlodes sylvanus
- Resident, tall grassland
- Adults: May-August
- Larval foodplants: grasses especially cocks-foot Dactylis glomerata
- Range: Southern Britain, extending northwards
- Status since 1970's : 12% decrease
Common blue Polyommatus icarus
- Resident
- Adults: 2 broods, May and October
- Larval foodplants: birds-foot treioil Lotus corniculatus
- Range: All Britain and Ireland
- Status since 1970's : 17% decrease
Holly blue Celastrina argiolus
- Resident, common in gardens
- Adults: 2 broods, late March/April August/September
- Larval foodplants: 1st brood holly Ilex aquifolium 2nd brood ivy Hedera helix
- Range: Southern Britain and Ireland
- Status since 1970's : 37% increase
Small copper Lycaena phlaeas
- Resident, rare now in gardens
- Adults: up to 4 broods April to November
- Larval foodplants: sorrels Rumex acetosa and R. acetosella
- Range: All Britain and Ireland
- Status since 1970's : 37% decline
Brown argus Aricia agestis
- Resident, rare in gardens
- Adults: 2-3 broods May to Sept.
- Larval foodplants: common rock-rose Helianthemum nummularium
- Range: southern-eastern Britain, coastal Wales
- Status since 2005 : 2% increase, range increasing
Brimstone Gonepteryx rhamni
- Resident, common in gardens
- Adults: overwintering individuals in April, offspring in August
- Larval foodplants: buckthorns Frangulus aldus & Rhamnus catharcticus
- Range: All Britain and Ireland
- Status since 1970's : 14% increase, range increasing
Large (cabbage) white Pieris brassicae
- Resident, augmented by summer migrants. Abundant
- Adults: usually 2 broods, April/May, July/August
- Larval foodplants: brassicas, nasturtium Tropaeolum majus
- Range:All Britain and Ireland
- Status since 1970's : 30% decrease but still abundant
Small (cabbage) white Pieris rapae
- Resident, augmented by summer migrants. Abundant
- Adults: usually 2 broods, April/June, July/August
- Larval foodplants: crucifers, nasturtium Tropaeolum majus
- Range: All Britain and Ireland
- Status since 1970's : 25% decrease but still common
Green-veined white Pieris napi
- Resident, common in gardens
- Adults: usually 2 broods, April/June, July/August
- Larval foodplants: charlock Sinapis arvensis, cuckoo-flower Cardamine pratensis
- Range: All Britain and Ireland
- Status since 2005: 72% increase
Orange-tip Anthocharis cardamines
- Resident, quite common in gardens
- Adults: 1 broods, April/June
- Larval foodplants: cuckoo-flower Cardamine pratensis
- Range: All Britain and Ireland except northern Scotland
- Status since 2005: 59% increase
- Red admiral, Vanessa atalanta Common
- Adults: Migrants from May, offspring July to October
- Larval foodplants: common nettle Urtica dioica
- Range: All Britain and Ireland
- Status since 2005: 257% increase
Painted lady Vanessa cardui
- Summer migrant, often common
- Adults: Migrants from April, offspring July to October
- Larval foodplants: thistles. common nettle Urtica dioica
- Range: All Britain and Ireland
- Status since 2005: 113% increase
Peacock, Inachis io
- Resident, common in gardens
- Adults: overwintering from January, offspring from June to December
- Larval foodplants: common nettle Urtica dioica
- Range: All Britain and Ireland except northern Scotland
- Status since 2005: 17% increase
Small tortoiseshell Aglais urticae
- Resident, common in gardens
- Adults: overwintering from January, offspring from July to December
- Larval foodplants: common nettle Urtica dioica
- Range: All Britain and Ireland
- Status since 2005: 73% decrease
Comma Polygonia c-album
- Resident, common in gardens
- Adults: overwintering from January, offspring from June to December
- Second brood eggs laid June to August, adults September to December
- Larval foodplants: common nettle Urtica dioica
- Range: All England and Wales, now southern Scotland
- Status since 1970s: 150% increase, range extending north
Speckled wood Pararge aegeria
- Resident, woodland habitat
- Adults: 2 broods April/May, June to October
- Larval foodplants: grasses, cocks-foot Dactylis glomerata and others
- Range: All Britain and Ireland, absent southern and central Scotland
- Status since 1970s: 84% increase
Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus
- Resident, woodland edge habitat
- Adults: 1 brood June to August
- Larval foodplants: grasses, cocks-foot Dactylis glomerata and others
- Range: All Britain and Ireland, absent north western Scotland
- Status since 1970s: 381% increase, range extending
Wall Lasiommata megera
- Resident, now mainly in coastal areas
- Adults: 2 broods April/June August/September
- Larval foodplants: grasses, bents Agrostis spp and others
- Range: England and Wales, coastal Ireland
- Status since 1970s: 87% decrease, range reducing.
- BAP species
Gatekeeper Pyronia tithonus
- Resident, hedgerows, common in gardens
- Adults: 1 brood June to September
- Larval foodplants: grass, bents Agrostis spp, fescues Festuca spp
- Range: Southern & central England and Wales, south coastal Ireland
- Status since 1970s: 41% decrease
Meadow brown Maniola jurtina
- Resident, grassy habitats, common in gardens
- Adults: 1 brood June to September
- Larval foodplants: grasses, bents Agrostis spp, cocks-foot Dactylis glomerata
- Range: All Britain and Ireland
- Status since 1970s: stable
Small skipper Thymelicus sylvestris
- Resident, rough grassland, common
- Adults: June-August
- Larval foodplants: grasses, Yorkshire fog Holcus lanatus
- Range: England and Wales north to Scottish border
- Status since 1970's : slight increase
Large skipper Ochlodes sylvanus
- Resident, tall grassland
- Adults: May-August
- Larval foodplants: grasses especially cocks-foot Dactylis glomerata
- Range: Southern Britain, extending northwards
- Status since 1970's : 12% decrease
Common blue Polyommatus icarus
- Resident
- Adults: 2 broods, May and October
- Larval foodplants: birds-foot treioil Lotus corniculatus
- Range: All Britain and Ireland
- Status since 1970's : 17% decrease
Holly blue Celastrina argiolus
- Resident, common in gardens
- Adults: 2 broods, late March/April August/September
- Larval foodplants: 1st brood holly Ilex aquifolium 2nd brood ivy Hedera helix
- Range: Southern Britain and Ireland
- Status since 1970's : 37% increase
Small copper Lycaena phlaeas
- Resident, rare now in gardens
- Adults: up to 4 broods April to November
- Larval foodplants: sorrels Rumex acetosa and R. acetosella
- Range: All Britain and Ireland
- Status since 1970's : 37% decline
Brown argus Aricia agestis
- Resident, rare in gardens
- Adults: 2-3 broods May to Sept.
- Larval foodplants: common rock-rose Helianthemum nummularium
- Range: southern-eastern Britain, coastal Wales
- Status since 2005 : 2% increase, range increasing
Brimstone Gonepteryx rhamni
- Resident, common in gardens
- Adults: overwintering individuals in April, offspring in August
- Larval foodplants: buckthorns Frangulus aldus & Rhamnus catharcticus
- Range: All Britain and Ireland
- Status since 1970's : 14% increase, range increasing
Large (cabbage) white Pieris brassicae
- Resident, augmented by summer migrants. Abundant
- Adults: usually 2 broods, April/May, July/August
- Larval foodplants: brassicas, nasturtium Tropaeolum majus
- Range:All Britain and Ireland
- Status since 1970's : 30% decrease but still abundant
Small (cabbage) white Pieris rapae
- Resident, augmented by summer migrants. Abundant
- Adults: usually 2 broods, April/June, July/August
- Larval foodplants: crucifers, nasturtium Tropaeolum majus
- Range: All Britain and Ireland
- Status since 1970's : 25% decrease but still common
Green-veined white Pieris napi
- Resident, common in gardens
- Adults: usually 2 broods, April/June, July/August
- Larval foodplants: charlock Sinapis arvensis, cuckoo-flower Cardamine pratensis
- Range: All Britain and Ireland
- Status since 2005: 72% increase
Orange-tip Anthocharis cardamines
- Resident, quite common in gardens
- Adults: 1 broods, April/June
- Larval foodplants: cuckoo-flower Cardamine pratensis
- Range: All Britain and Ireland except northern Scotland
- Status since 2005: 59% increase
- Red admiral, Vanessa atalanta Common
- Adults: Migrants from May, offspring July to October
- Larval foodplants: common nettle Urtica dioica
- Range: All Britain and Ireland
- Status since 2005: 257% increase
Painted lady Vanessa cardui
- Summer migrant, often common
- Adults: Migrants from April, offspring July to October
- Larval foodplants: thistles. common nettle Urtica dioica
- Range: All Britain and Ireland
- Status since 2005: 113% increase
Peacock, Inachis io
- Resident, common in gardens
- Adults: overwintering from January, offspring from June to December
- Larval foodplants: common nettle Urtica dioica
- Range: All Britain and Ireland except northern Scotland
- Status since 2005: 17% increase
Small tortoiseshell Aglais urticae
- Resident, common in gardens
- Adults: overwintering from January, offspring from July to December
- Larval foodplants: common nettle Urtica dioica
- Range: All Britain and Ireland
- Status since 2005: 73% decrease
Comma Polygonia c-album
- Resident, common in gardens
- Adults: overwintering from January, offspring from June to December
- Second brood eggs laid June to August, adults September to December
- Larval foodplants: common nettle Urtica dioica
- Range: All England and Wales, now southern Scotland
- Status since 1970s: 150% increase, range extending north
Speckled wood Pararge aegeria
- Resident, woodland habitat
- Adults: 2 broods April/May, June to October
- Larval foodplants: grasses, cocks-foot Dactylis glomerata and others
- Range: All Britain and Ireland, absent southern and central Scotland
- Status since 1970s: 84% increase
Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus
- Resident, woodland edge habitat
- Adults: 1 brood June to August
- Larval foodplants: grasses, cocks-foot Dactylis glomerata and others
- Range: All Britain and Ireland, absent north western Scotland
- Status since 1970s: 381% increase, range extending
Wall Lasiommata megera
- Resident, now mainly in coastal areas
- Adults: 2 broods April/June August/September
- Larval foodplants: grasses, bents Agrostis spp and others
- Range: England and Wales, coastal Ireland
- Status since 1970s: 87% decrease, range reducing.
- BAP species
Gatekeeper Pyronia tithonus
- Resident, hedgerows, common in gardens
- Adults: 1 brood June to September
- Larval foodplants: grass, bents Agrostis spp, fescues Festuca spp
- Range: Southern & central England and Wales, south coastal Ireland
- Status since 1970s: 41% decrease
Meadow brown Maniola jurtina
- Resident, grassy habitats, common in gardens
- Adults: 1 brood June to September
- Larval foodplants: grasses, bents Agrostis spp, cocks-foot Dactylis glomerata
- Range: All Britain and Ireland
- Status since 1970s: stable
Biology
Butterflies are day-flying insects that are active from spring to autumn. They visit flowers in order to feed on nectar. Many garden flowers are attractive to them, particularly those growing in warm sheltered places. The larval stages feed mainly on the foliage of various plants. The large and small cabbage whites eat the foliage of cultivated plants, such as cabbage, other brassicas and nasturtiums. Other British butterflies have caterpillars that feed on forest trees or wild flowers, including nettles and grasses.
Species that come to Britain as migrants include red admiral Vanessa atalanta, painted lady Vanessa cardui and less commonly in gardens, the clouded yellow, Colias croceus. The numbers that cross the Channel or North Sea can vary considerably from year to year. Those that arrive early enough are able to breed in Britain but they do not usually survive the winter. Climate change may change this, as in the case of the red admiral,
Life cycle
After mating, female butterflies deposit eggs on plants suitable for their larvae. Some butterflies lay eggs singly over many plants, while others lays eggs in clusters on a few plants. The caterpillars feed on the foliage or flower buds of their food plants. When fully fed, the caterpillars often wander away from their food plants before selecting somewhere to pupate. Most butterfly caterpillars pupate above ground level. They do not enclose themselves in a silk cocoon but silk threads are used to attach the pupa or chrysalis to a plant stem or fence.
Most butterflies overwinter as pupae but some species overwinter as eggs or larvae. The comma, brimstone, peacock and small tortoiseshell butterflies overwinter in sheltered places as adults. The last two mentioned sometimes hibernate in garden sheds and garages. Most species have one generation a year but some have two or sometimes three.
The skipper family
The skipper butterflies are in the family
Hesperiidae. There are 9 British and Irish skipper species (including one only found on Jersey), out of a world total of about 3,500.
Skippers are unusual butterflies with some moth-like features. They are small, and at rest hold their forewings and hindwings flat and at different angles to each other. They have large heads and fat bodies, and the antennae are not simply clubbed as in other butterflies, but have a distinct hook at the tip. Their common name of "skipper" reflects their rapid irregular darting flight.
There are two skipper species commonly seen in gardens. These are the small skipper and the large skipper. The Essex skipper Thymelicus lineola has been recorded in gardens but not commonly, almost certainly because it is very similar to the small skipper. It is found, not just in Essex, but south of a line from the Humber to Bristol.
Wingspan ♂27mm and ♀30mm
Perceptibly smaller
Bright golden colour, brown body
No pale patches on forewing
Wingspan ♂33mm and ♀35mm
Perceptibly larger
Duller yellow brown, yellow scales on body
Obvious pale spots on forewing
How to distinguish small and Essex skippers
Antennae tips
The small skipper (left) has orange-brown tips to the antennae.
The Essex skipper (right) has black pigmentation on the underside of the antenna tip
Distribution
The Essex skipper is expanding its
range and is now found south and east of a line roughly between Weymouth and Hull. The small skipper has a
wider range extending over all of England and Wales.
Page written and compiled by Steve Head
The skipper family
The skipper butterflies are in the family Hesperiidae. There are 9 British and Irish skipper species (including one only found on Jersey), out of a world total of about 3,500.
Skippers are unusual butterflies with some moth-like features. They are small, and at rest hold their forewings and hindwings flat and at different angles to each other. They have large heads and fat bodies, and the antennae are not simply clubbed as in other butterflies, but have a distinct hook at the tip. Their common name of "skipper" reflects their rapid irregular darting flight.
There are two skipper species commonly seen in gardens. These are the small skipper and the large skipper. The Essex skipper Thymelicus lineola has been recorded in gardens but not commonly, almost certainly because it is very similar to the small skipper. See below for identification tips.
Wingspan ♂27mm and ♀30mm
Perceptibly smaller
Bright golden colour, brown body
No pale patches on forewing
Wingspan ♂33mm and ♀35mm
Perceptibly larger
Duller yellow brown, yellow scales on body
Obvious pale spots on forewing
How to distinguish small and Essex skippers
Antennae tips
The small skipper (left) has orange-brown tips to the antennae.
The Essex skipper (right) has black pigmentation on the underside of the antenna tip
Distribution
The Essex skipper is expanding its range and is now found south and east of a line roughly between Weymouth and Hull. The small skipper has a wider range extending over all of England and Wales
Page written and compiled by Steve Head