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Lepidoptera - UK and European Butterflies and Moths

Here are some of the butterflies and moths you will see in the countryside in many parts of the UK and Europe. There are links to larger pictures and information about each species. Also included are a few lovely butterflies and moths from further afield.

Butterflies 1 - Papilionidae:

Scarce
Swallowtail
Scarce Swallowtail - Iphiclides podalirius
Common
Swallowtail
Common Swallowtail butterfly, Papilio machaon
Mountain
Apollo
Mountain Apollo, Parnassius apollo
Spanish
Festoon
Zerynthia rumina - Spanish Festoon butterfly

Butterflies 2 - Nymphalidae:

Map
Butterfly
Map butterfly, Araschnia levana
Red
Admiral
Red Admiral butterfly, Vanessa atalanta
Marsh
Fritillary
Euphydryas aurinia - Marsh Fritillary
Comma
Butterfly
Comma butterfly, Polygona c-album
Silver Washed
Fritillary
Argynnis paphia, Silver Washed Fritillary
Heath
Fritillary
Heath Fritillary, Melitaea athalia
Nickerl's
Fritillary
Nickerl's Fritillary, Melitaea aurelia
Glanville
Fritillary
Glanville Fritillary, Melitaea cinxia
Provençal
Fritillary
Provençal Fritillary, Melitaea deione
False Heath
Fritillary
False Heath Fritillary, Melitaea diamina
Spotted
Fritillary
Spotted Fritillary, Melitaea didyma
Knapweed
Fritillary
Knapweed Fritillary, Melitaea phoebe
Dark Green
Fritillary
Argynnis aglaja, Dark Green Fritillary
High Brown
Fritillary
Fabriciana adippe, High Brown Fritillary
Small Pearl-bordered
Fritillary
Boloria selene, Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary
Pearl-bordered
Fritillary
Boloria euphrosyne,  Pearl-bordered Fritillary
Marbled
Fritillary
Brenthis daphne, Marbled Fritillary
Twin-spot
Fritillary
Brenthis hecate, Twin-spot Fritillary
Queen of Spain
Fritillary
Queen of Spain Fritillary - Issoria lathonia
Painted
Lady
Painted Lady butterfly, Vanessa cardui
Small
Tortoiseshel
Small Tortoiseshell butterfly, Aglais urticae
Large
Tortoiseshell
Nymphalis polychloros - Large Tortoisehell butterfly
Peacock
Butterfly
Peacock butterfly, Inachis io
Camberwell
Beauty
Nymphalis antiopa, Camberwell Beauty or Mourning Cloak
Lesser Purple
Emperor
Apatura ilia, Lesser Purple Emperor
Purple
Emperor
Apatura iris, Purple Emperor
Southern White
Admiral
Limenitis reducta - Southern White Admiral butterfly
White
Admiral
Limenitis camilla - White Admiral butterfly
Two-tailed
Pasha
Two-tailed Pasha butterfly - Charaxes jasius
Gulf
Fritillary
Agraulis vanillae - Gulf Fritillary or Silver-spotted Flambeau
Caribbean
Buckeye
Junonia evarete - Caribbean Buckeye butterfly

Butterflies 2 - Satyridae:

Meadow
Brown
Meadow Brown butterfly, Maniola jurtina
Large Wall
Brown
Lasiommata maera, Large Wall Brown butterfly
Wall
Brown
Lasiommata megera, Wall Brown butterfly
Southern
Gatekeeper
Pyronia cecilia - Southern Gatekeeper
Gatekeeper
Butterfly
Gatekeeper butterfly, Pyronia tithonus
Pearly
Heath
Pearly Heath butterfly, Coenonympha arcania
Small
Heath
Small Heath butterfly, Coenonympha pamphilus
Large
Heath
Large Heath butterfly, Coenonympha tullia
Grayling
Butterfly
Grayling Butterfly, Hipparchia semele
Marbled
White
Marbled White butterfly, Melanargia galathea
Spanish
Marbled White
Spanish Marbled White, Melanargia ines
Ringlet
Butterfly
Ringlet butterfly, Aphantopus hyperantus
Speckled
Wood
Speckled wood butterfly, Pararge aegeria

Butterflies 3 - Pieridae:

Small
White
Small White butterfly, Pieris rapae
Green-veined
White
Green-veined white butterfly, Pieris napi
Orange-tip
Butterfly
Orange-tip butterfly, Anthocharis cardamines
Provencal Orange-tip
Butterfly
Provencal Orange-tip butterfly, Anthocharis euphenoides
Black-veined
White
Black-veined White butterfly, Aporia crataegi
Eastern Dappled
White
Euchloe belemia - Green-striped White
Green-striped
White
Euchloe belemia - Green-striped White
Portuguese Dappled
White
Euchloetagis, Portuguese Dappled White
Large
White
Large White butterfly, Pieris brassicae
Cleopatra
Butterfly
Gonepteryx cleopatra - Cleopatra butterfly
Brimstone
Butterfly
Gonepteryx rhamni, Brimstone# butterfly
Clouded
Yellow
Colias croceus - Clouded Yellow butterfly
Wood
White
Leptidea sinapois, Wood White butterfly
Cloudless
Sulphur
Phoebis sennae - Cloudless Sulphur butterfly
Green-veined
White
Green-veined white butterfly, Artogeia napi
Small
Sulphur
Eurema lisa - Little Sulphur butterfly

Butterflies 4: Lycaenidae

Small
Copper
Small Copper butterfly, Lycaena phlaeas
Large
Copper
Large Copper butterfly, Lycaena dispar
Silver-studded
Blue
Silver-studded blue butterfly
Adonis
Blue
Adonios Blue Polyommatus bellargus
Chalkhill
Blue
Chalkhill Blue Polyommatus coridon
Common
Blue
Common Blue butterfly, Polyommatus icarus
Holly
Blue
Holly Blue butterfly, Celastrina argiolus
Large
Blue
Large Blue butterfly, Maculinea arion
Long-tailed
Blue
Lampides boeticus, Long-tailed Blue butterfly
Lang's Long-tailed
Blue
Leptotes pirithous, Lang's Short-tailed Blue butterfly
Black-eyed
Blue
Glaucopsyche melanops, Black-eyed Blue
Paphos
Blue
Glaucopsyche paphos, Paphos Blue
Brown
Argus
Aricia agestis, Brown Argus
Spanish Brown
Argus
Aricia cramera, Spanish Brown Argus
Lorquin's
Blue
Cupido lorquinii - Lorquin's Blue butterfly
Adonis
Blue
Cupido lorquinii - Lorquin's Blue butterfly
False baton
Blue
Pseudophilotes abencerragus, False Baton Blue
Small
Blue
Cupido minimus - Small Blue butterfly
Chequered
Blue
Scolitantides orion - Chequered Blue butterfly
Blue-spot
Hairstreak
Satyrium spini - Blue-spot Hairstreak
False Ilex
Hairstreak
Satyrium esculi - False Ilex Hairstreak
White Letter
Hairstreak
Satyrium w-album, White Letter Hairstreak
Brown
Hairstreak
Thecla betulae, Brown Hairstreak
Green
Hairstreak
Callophrys rubi, Green Hairstreak
Purple
Hairstreak
Purple Hairstreak Butterfly, Favonius quercus
Provencal
Hairstreak
Provencal Hairstreak, Tomares ballus
Chequered
Blue
Scolitantides orion, Chequered Blue

Butterflies 5: Hesperidae

Chequered
Skipper
Grizzled Skipper Butterfly, Pyrgus malvae
False Mallow
Skipper
False Mallow Skipper, Carcharodus tripolinus
Dingy
Skipper
Dingy Skipper Butterfly, Erryris tages
Large Chequered
Skipper
Large Chequered Skipper Butterfly, Heteropterus morpheus
Large
Skipper
Large Skipper Butterfly, Ochlodes sylvanus
Grizzled
Skipper
Grizzled Skipper Butterfly, Pyrgus malvae
Red Underwing
Skipper
Grizzled Skipper Butterfly, Pyrgus malvae
Lulworth
Skipper
Lulworth Skipper Butterfly - Thymelicus acteon
Essex
Skipper
Essex Skipper Butterfly - Thymelicus lineola
Small
Skipper
Small Skipper Butterfly - Thymelicus sylvestris

Butterflies 6: Other Families

Duke of
Burgundy
Duke of Burgundy Fritillary, Hamearis lucina
Monarch
Butterfly
Monarch butterfly, Danaus plexippus

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Moths:

Cistus Forester
Moth
Cistus Forester Moth
Forester
Moth
Forester Moth - Adscita statices
No common
name
Anacampsis blattariella
Common Nettle-
tap Moth
Anthophila fabriciana
No common
name
Argyresthia albistria
No common
name
Athrips mouffetella
Scarlet
Tiger
Callimorpha dominula
No common
name
Caloptilia alchimiella
Red Birch
Slender
Calioptilia betulicola
No common
name
Calybites phasianipennella
No Common
name
Carcina quercana
Gorse
Case-bearer
Gorse Case-bearer
Pistol
Case-bearer
Pistol Case-bearer
No common
name
Coleophora follicularis
No common
name
Coleophora peribenanderi
Goat
Moth
The Goat Moth
No common
name
Diurnea lipsiella
No common
name
Ethmia bipunctella
Map-winged
Swift Moth
Map-winged Swift moth
Common Swift
Moth
Common Swift Moth
Gold Swift
Moth
Gold Swift Moth
Orange Swift
Moth
Orange Swift Moth
Ghost Moth
(Male)
Ghost Moth
Ghost Moth
(Female)
Ghost Moth
Triangle
Moth
Triangle Moth
No common
name
Hypatima rhomboidella
No common
name
Metzneria lappella
White-headed
Monopis
White-headed Monopis Moth
Longhorn
Moth
Nemphora degreerella
Reed Leopard
Moth
Reed Leopard Moth
White Streak
Moth
Pleurota bicostella
No common
name
Semiscopis steinkellneriana
No common
name
Tinea semifulvella
No common
name
Tinea trinotella
Carpet Moth/
Tapestry Moth
Carpet Moth
Cinnabar
Moth
Cinnabar Moth, Tyria jacobaea
Leopard
Moth
Leopard Moth
Six-spot
Burnet Moth
Zygaena purpuralis, Transparent Burnet Moth
Narrow-bordered
Five-spot Burnet
Zygaena lonicerae
Transparent
Burnet Moth
Zygaena purpuralis, Transparent Burnet Moth
Five-spot
Burnet Moth
Five-spot Burnet Moth - Zygaena trifolii

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Studying butterflies and moths...

Life Cycle

Despite some obvious differences between many of the insects that we call butterflies and those that we call moths, there is no real scientific basis for separating the two groups, and lepidopterists (those who study this insect group) treat them as a single order.

Some obvious features of many of the butterflies are their bright colours and their habit of flying by day and resting with their wings closed vertically above their bodies. Most moths are dully coloured, nocturnal insects and hold their wings flat or in a ridge shape over their bodies when at rest. But there are exceptions to these convenient 'rules': burnet moths, for example, are very brightly coloured and they fly mainly during the day.

In Britain there are about 2500 species of butterflies and moths, with moths greatly outnumbering butterflies. Looking beyond the UK, across the world some 150,000 species of butterflies and moths have been identified, and no doubt there are many more still to be discovered.

The eggs are laid on the leaves of plants suited to the needs of the particular species. Some prefer nettles or docks; others may need specific flowers or the leaves of a particular tree. The larvae hatch after a few weeks and begin feeding.

After a few months the larva, or caterpillar, is fully grown and ready to pupate. It then turns into a chrysalis. It is in this state that many species spend the winter, although some hibernate as larvae and others do so as winged adults. The cycle begins again the following year with a new generation of butterflies and moths laying their eggs.

We photograph buterflies in the wild, without catching them and, if possible, without disturbing them from their normal patterns of behaviour. If you feel gthe need to capture specimens for close study, a large net is the best way to catch day-flying butterflies. They can then be studied and photographed before releasing them. In the early evening, moths can be caught in the same way, but once it gets dark this is not very practical. A lamp, preferably an ultra-violet one built in to a trap, does the job with the minimum of effort. We pack ours with pieces of egg boxes among which the moths soon settle down. On releasing moths from a trap it is important to disperse them; otherwise, the birds will have a feast and your location might be seriously depleted of some moth species.

Butterfly Information Sources

The pictures and text on the First Nature butterfly and moth pages are the results of our own observations, notes and photography in Britain and Ireland, on mainland Europe, in North America and South America, and to a limited extent also Asia. We have also learned much from the published research and Web resources produced by many other organisations and individual enthusiasts who have studied butterflies and moths, and we wish to acknowledge our reliance on such expertise.

Additional Butterfly Information on the Web

More specialist information on British, Irish, European mainland and American butterflies can be found on these superb websites:

UK Butterflies, by Peter Eeles

British Butterflies, by Stephen Cheshire

Learn About Butterflies, by Adrian Hoskins

UK Leps, by Reg Fry

Butterfly Conservation -

Butterfly Ireland - Dublin Naturalists' Field Club

Butterflies of Ireland

European Butterflies, by Matt Rowlings

European Butterfly Page, by Guy Padfield

Butterflies of France, by Roger Gibbons

Butterflies in Italy, by Robin Fox

Butterflies of Bulgaria, by Zdravko Kolev

California Butterfly Monitoring, by Dr Arthur (Art) Shapiro

Butterflies and Moths of North America - Butterfly and Moth Information Network

Butterflies of America, by Jonathan P. Pelham / Butterflies of America Foundation

Books and other Printed Resources

Asher. J., Warren, M., Fox, R., Harding, P., Jeffcoat, G., Jeffcoat, S.
(2001) The Millennium Atlas of Butterflies in Britain & Ireland, Oxford University Press, Oxford.

Carter, D.
(1982) Butterflies and Moths of Britain and Europe. Pan Books, London.

Easterbrook, M.
(1987) Butterflies of the British Isles: The Nymphalidae, Shire Natural History No 19, Aylesbury.

Easterbrook, M.
(1988) Butterflies of the British Isles: The Lycaenidae, Shire Natural History No 24, Aylesbury.

Easterbrook, M.
(1989) Butterflies of the British Isles: The Pieridae, Shire Natural History No 50, Aylesbury.

Fox, R., Asher. J., Brereton. T., Roy, D & Warren, M.
(2006) The State of Butterflies in Britain & Ireland, Pisces, Oxford.

Fox, R., Warren, M., Brereton, T. M., Roy, D. B. & Robinson, A.
(2010) A new Red List of British Butterflies. Insect Conservation and Diversity.

Fox, R., Warren, M & Brereton, T.
(2007) New Red List of British Butterflies. Butterfly Conservation, Wareham.

Harding, J. M.
(2008) Discovery Irish Butterflies & their Habitats.

Hofmann, H., Marktanner, T.
(2001) Butterflies and Moths of Britain & Europe. HarperCollins, London.

May, P. R.
(2003) Larval Foodplants of the Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland. The Amateur Entomologists' Society, Kent.

Moucha, J.
(1985) A Colour Guide to Familiar Butterflies Caterpillars and Chrysalides.
Newland, D. E.
(2006) Butterflies in Britain. Wild Guides, Hampshire.

Newman, L.H.
(1968) The Complete British Butterflies in Colour.

Porter, J.
(1997) The Colour Identification Guide to Caterpillars of the British Isles, Viking,
Harmondsworth.

Riley, A. M.
(2007) British and Irish Butterflies: the Complete Identification, Field and Site Guide to the Species, Subspecies and Forms, Brambleby Books, Luton. ISBN: 978-0-9553928-0-1

Sterry, P. Photographic Guide to the Butterflies of Britain and Europe
New Holland Publishers Ltd; 2nd Revised edition edition (1 May 2001) Language English ISBN-10: 1843302659 ISBN-13: 978-1859747308

Tolman, T., Lewington, R.
(1997) Butterflies of Britain & Europe. Harper Collins, London. ISBN-13: 978-0007242344

Britain's Butterflies: A Field Guide to the Butterflies of Britain and Ireland (Second edition, fully revised and updated) (Britain's Wildlife) [Illustrated] [Paperback] D. E. Newland D. E. Newland (Author) IISBN-13: 978-1903657300 Princeton University Press; Second edition (16 Aug 2010)

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