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Orange Tip (Male) (Anthocharis cardamines) - one of the delights of early spring is seeing a ball of vivid orange darting past. Only the males have the bright orange wingtips. The females are white with black wingtips but both have the attractive mottled green underwings. It overwinters as a chyrsalis and is one of the first UK species to emerge from hibernation that has not overwintered as an adult.

Red Admiral with wings closed enjoying the heat radiating from the south facing wall of the house

Peacock (Aglais io) - its spectacular and highly conspicious eyespots evolved to startle or confuse predators. The undersides of its wings are very dark and mimic dead leaves when closed and is therefore highly inconspicuous making it very hard to spot especially on the bark of trees in winter. The species survives the UK winter in the adult stage where it emerges during the warm and sunny days of spring to feed and mate. Eggs are laid by the emerging adults in May with the new generation of adults emerging from their chrysalis in mid-summer.

Holly Blue (female) (Celastrina argiolus) on a Holly leaf - it is the first of the blue butterflies to emerge in the spring after overwintering as a chrysalis usually on the leaves of the evergreen Ivy bush. It tends to fly high around bushes and trees, whereas grassland blues usually stay close to the ground. It is the most common of the UK blues. In spring it is found around Holly bushes where the female lays her eggs for the adults that will emerge in the summer of the same year. In the late summer the new generation of adults are found around Ivy upon which the female lays her eggs that will overwinter as pupa.

Holly Blue (female) (Celastrina argiolus) on a Holly leaf with wings partly open - the spectacular vivid blue the upper wings can be seen shining in this shot. The broad black borders on the uppersides of the forewings of the female can be seen which are absent in the male.

Peacock (Aglais io) with wings open

Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus) feeding on the flowers of Heather.

Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) on Buddleia - one of the UK's most common and attractive butterflies that can turn up almost anywhere, from city centres to mountain tops. As such, it is one of our most successful butterflies. It is most-often seen, however, where nettles grow in abundance, such as field margins. Unfortunately, it has suffered a worrying decline, especially in the south, over the last few years. The adult butterflies can be seen at any time of the year, even on the last days of December or first days of January if the temperature is high enough to wake them from hibernation. However, adults normally emerge from hibernation at the end of March and start of April. There are typically 2 broods each year, except in the north, where there is usually only a single brood.

Holly Blue (female) (Celastrina argiolus) on a recently emerged spring leaf of the Hornbeam.

Common Blue (female) (Polyommatus icarus) on Heather - while the brightly blue coloured males of this predominately grassland species are conspicuous, the upperwings of the females are almost completely brown in southern England. The Common Blue overwinters as a caterpillar and has two broods in the southern England, and 1 brood further north. There may be a 3rd brood in favourable years. Time of emergence is highly variable. In good years, adults may be seen as early as the middle of May on more southerly sites.

Common Blue (female) (Polyommatus icarus) on Heather - while the brightly blue coloured males of this predominately grassland species are conspicuous, the upperwings of the females are almost completely brown in southern England. The Common Blue overwinters as a caterpillar and has two broods in the southern England, and 1 brood further north. There may be a 3rd brood in favourable years. Time of emergence is highly variable. In good years, adults may be seen as early as the middle of May on more southerly sites.

Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) - unique among UK butterflies in that it can overwinter as both a larva and pupa. As a result, there is a mixed emergence with adult butterflies on the wing from April through to September, with a few adults being seen as early as March or as late as October, especially at southern sites. There are 2 or 3 generations, depending on location and weather conditions and adults of later generations are generally darker than those emerging earlier in the year. This butterfly is often seen in more-sheltered conditions than other species and is often the only species seen in dappled shade, or in overcast conditions.

The male is territorial and will inhabit a particular clearing or hedgerow, where he will rest on a prominent sunlit perch waiting for a passing female. Other males are soon seen off before the defending male returns to a favourite perch. If no suitable territory can be found, or when there is a large number of males, the male will patrol in search of a mate instead. When a male encounters a receptive female, which has a more laboured flight than the male, she will fall to the ground or a nearby leaf where, after a brief courtship, the pair mate.

Occurs in woodland, gardens and hedgerows. Butterflies often perch in sunny spots, spiralling into the air to chase each other.

The male usually perches in a small pool of sunlight, from where it rises rapidly to intercept any intruder. Both sexes feed on honeydew in the treetops and are rarely seen feeding on flowers, except early and late in the year when aphid activity is low.

Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) on Buddleia - one of the UK's most common and attractive butterflies that can turn up almost anywhere, from city centres to mountain tops. As such, it is one of our most successful butterflies. It is most-often seen, however, where nettles grow in abundance, such as field margins. Unfortunately, it has suffered a worrying decline, especially in the south, over the last few years. The adult butterflies can be seen at any time of the year, even on the last days of December or first days of January if the temperature is high enough to wake them from hibernation. However, adults normally emerge from hibernation at the end of March and start of April. There are typically 2 broods each year, except in the north, where there is usually only a single brood.

Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) on Buddleia - one of the UK's most common and attractive butterflies that can turn up almost anywhere, from city centres to mountain tops. As such, it is one of our most successful butterflies. It is most-often seen, however, where nettles grow in abundance, such as field margins. Unfortunately, it has suffered a worrying decline, especially in the south, over the last few years. The adult butterflies can be seen at any time of the year, even on the last days of December or first days of January if the temperature is high enough to wake them from hibernation. However, adults normally emerge from hibernation at the end of March and start of April. There are typically 2 broods each year, except in the north, where there is usually only a single brood.

Orange Tip (Male) (Anthocharis cardamines) feeding on a dandelion flower - one of the delights of early spring is seeing a ball of vivid orange darting past. Only the males have the bright orange wingtips. The females are white with black wingtips but both have the attractive mottled green underwings. It overwinters as a chyrsalis and is one of the first UK species to emerge from hibernation that has not overwintered as an adult.

Comma (Polygonia c-album) soaking up the heat radiating from a white garden table - a very distinctive butterfly due to its rugged wings which when closed mimic a dead withered leaf. This camouflage is important given that it overwinters, with its wings closed, in its adult form. The butterfly emerges from hibernation in March, giving rise to the next generation which appears in mid-summer. The majority of the offspring have dark undersides and these go on to hibernate. However, the remainder of the offspring have quite light undersides and brighter uppersides and go on to breed and produce another generation that then overwinter. As a result, there is another emergence of fresh adults in late summer.

Comma (Polygonia c-album) feeding on Buddleia - a very distinctive butterfly due to its rugged wings which when closed mimic a dead withered leaf. This camouflage is important given that it overwinters, with its wings closed, in its adult form. The butterfly emerges from hibernation in March, giving rise to the next generation which appears in mid-summer. The majority of the offspring have dark undersides and these go on to hibernate. However, the remainder of the offspring have quite light undersides and brighter uppersides and go on to breed and produce another generation that then overwinter. As a result, there is another emergence of fresh adults in late summer. The trigger for whether a particular caterpillar develops into the light or dark variant is, according to the excellent website 'ukbutterflies.co.uk' changing day length. If the day length is increasing (before midsummer's day) as the larva develops, then the majority of adults will go on to produce another generation, whereas if day length is decreasing, then the majority of adults will be the regular dark form that enter hibernation. Amazing yeah!

Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus) on Mint flowers

Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus) - very similar undersides of the wings to the Meadow Brown except the Gatekeeper is generally smaller and has a series of small white dots on the underside of the hind wings which are absent in the Meadow Brown.

Comma (Polygonia c-album) feeding on Buddleia - a very distinctive butterfly due to its rugged wings which when closed mimic a dead withered leaf. This camouflage is important given that it overwinters, with its wings closed, in its adult form. The butterfly emerges from hibernation in March, giving rise to the next generation which appears in mid-summer. The majority of the offspring have dark undersides and these go on to hibernate. However, the remainder of the offspring have quite light undersides and brighter uppersides and go on to breed and produce another generation that then overwinter. As a result, there is another emergence of fresh adults in late summer.

Large White (male) (Pieris brassicae) on Buddleia - both the large and small whites, collectively known as 'cabbage whites' get a bad rap as they are garden pests and somewhat plain in appearance. However the Large White in particular is quite a spectacular butterfly - one of the larger UK species - with dazzling, brilliant white upper wings its quite exotic looking. Females have two spots on the forewings, which are not present in males. The undersides are a creamy white with two spots. They overwinter as pupae and have as many as three broods appearing between April and September. As soon as I planted a cabbage plant or two the number of large and small whites visiting and breeding in the garden skyrocketed and certainly added to the overall butterfly action in the garden.

Large White (male) (Pieris brassicae) on Buddleia - both the large and small whites, collectively known as 'cabbage whites' get a bad rap as they are garden pests and somewhat plain in appearance. However the Large White in particular is quite a spectacular butterfly - one of the larger UK species - with dazzling, brilliant white upper wings its quite exotic looking. Females have two spots on the forewings, which are not present in males. The undersides are a creamy white with two spots. They overwinter as pupae and have as many as three broods appearing between April and September. As soon as I planted a cabbage plant or two the number of large and small whites visiting and breeding in the garden skyrocketed and certainly added to the overall butterfly action in the garden.

Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus) - a relatively-common butterfly that is quite stunning on closer inspection due to its near uniform dark velvety chocolate brown uppersides that provide a striking contrast with the delicate white fringes found on the wing edges.Its black fringed rings add to its beauty. The dark colouring also allows this butterfly to quickly warm up - this butterfly being one of the few that flies on overcast days. There is only one generation per year, with adults on the wing between mid-June, and mid-July, with a few individuals continuing into August. The flight period is relatively-short when compared with its close relatives. This species overwinters as a caterpillar.

Meadow Brown (Male) (Maniola jurtina)

Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus) - very similar undersides of the wings to the Meadow Brown except the Gatekeeper is generally smaller and has a series of small white dots on the underside of the hind wings which are absent in the Meadow Brown.

Orange Tip (Male) (Anthocharis cardamines) on white dead nettle - one of the delights of early spring is seeing a ball of vivid orange darting past. Only the males have the bright orange wingtips. The females are white with black wingtips but both have the attractive mottled green underwings. It overwinters as a chyrsalis and is one of the first UK species to emerge from hibernation that has not overwintered as an adult.

British Butterflies Doing Their Thing

Nature

Butterflies are God's confetti sprinkled in a celebration of life and effortless beauty

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