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Home , Common blue, Devon Wildlife Trust, Gatekeeper (butterfly), Gonepteryx rhamni, Pieris brassicae, Pieris rapae

Small Skipper Large Skipper Dingy Skipper of National Park Thymelicus sylvestris Ochlodes sylvanus Erynnis tages Upper side solid orange, Chequered pattern visible on Its grey-brown wings are mottled with no mottling. Males have a both sides of the wings. intricate brown markings on both curved line (sex brand) The male has a prominent sides, a row of small white spots Identification Guide on the forewing. Tips of black line (sex brand) on on the upperwings, and a pale grey- antennae are orange. the forewing. white fringe on the edges of the wings. Wing span range Dartmoor Star Please note: photos not to scale 30mm 33 – 35mm 29mm

Brimstone Large White Small White rhamni Clouded Yellow brassicae Grizzled Skipper Pyrgus malvae When perched resembles Conspicuous black tips Black wing tips (but Rests with wings closed. Mustard a leaf in shape and colour. Its wings are black or dark brown, to the upperside of the less extensive than on Large yellow with ringed white mark in 185dpi Upperside of the male with a chequerboard forewing extending about White). Males have a single black centre of hindwing and black dot buttercup yellow, female pale lemon yellow. of white spots. half way down the wing edge. spot on upperside of forewing (unlike in centre of forewing. Central spot in both wings. Female can 27mm Females have double black dots on the forewings. Large White); females have two. 57 – 62mm be confused with Large White in flight. 60mm 63 – 70mm 48mm

Brown Hairstreak Green-veined white..... White-letter Hairstreak Thecla betulae Pieris napi Green Hairstreak Satyrium w-album Orange-tip Callophrys rubi Anthocharis cardamines The usually rests with its wings Veins visible on upperside but most Orange margin to underside Green underside distinguishes closed. The underwings feature two conspicuous on underside, green on pale Male forewing tips bright orange, of hindwing and a distinctive this butterfly from all other wavy white streaks with small tails on the yellow background. First brood (May) female wing tips black. Underside ‘tail’ to wing shape. White line British butterflies. Upperside hindwings. The uppersides are brown; is smaller and paler than its of hind wing mottled green. straddles both wings with ‘W’ plain brown, only seen in flight. the male’s with a smallish yellow mark offspring (July onwards). 45 – 50mm shape on hindwing. 33mm and the female’s with a large, orange mark. 50mm 36mm 38 – 40mm

Small Copper Brown Argus Common Blue Blue Purple Hairstreak Lycaena phlaeas icarus Celastrina argiolus Favonius quercus Coppery-orange forewings Can be mistaken for female Male upperside bright blue, females Easily distinguished Underwings grey with white streak with black margins and spots, Common Blue. Upperside solid dusky brown with blue scaling and orange from Common Blue and small tails, upper wings brown. Males brown hindwings with orange brown ground colour without blue scaling; markings to wing margins. Markings by distinctive silvery blue have a purple sheen, females have a margins. Male smaller than female lacks spots on underside forewing on underside of forewing closer to underwing with black spots. purple mark on forewing. and forewings more pointed. nearer than halfway to the body. body than those on Brown Argus. Female upperwing with broad black margin. 37 – 39mm 32 – 35mm 29mm 35mm 35mm

Red Admiral White Admiral Painted Lady Small Tortoiseshell Peacock Vanessa atalanta Limenitis camilla Vanessa cardui Aglais urticae Aglais io Distinctive black, white It has white-banded black Chequered orange and brown markings Upperside bright orange with Orangey-red ground colour with and red markings on wings and a distinctive with white spots in top half of forewing. black markings, a white spot distinctive ‘eyes’ on the upperside upperside; underside delicate flight, which has Freshly emerged butterflies salmon-pink, on the forewing and blue of both wings. Underside forewing mottled to offer short periods of wing beats colour fading with time. Underside margins to both wings. Underside almost black and very good . followed by long glides. mottled and well camouflaged. is dull and well camouflaged. well camouflaged. 50-56mm 67 – 72mm 60 – 64mm 50 – 56mm 50 – 56mm 63 – 69mm

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary High Brown Fritillary Comma Pearl-bordered Fritillary Boloria selene Argynnis adippe Polygonia c-album Boloria euphrosyne Dark Green Fritillary Argynnis aglaja Can be confused with Pearl-bordered Fritillary. Large, fast flying butterfly; bright orange Upperside orange with Upperside chequered pattern of black Upperside black triangles along wing edge with chequered black markings. Very similar to High Brown Fritillary. black markings, distinctive scalloped markings on orange background. are joined to dark wing border. Underside Underside hindwing, row of Differs on underside with wing shape. Underside mottled Underside hindwing with small central hindwing black spot is large white spots with black outline distinctive green wash and brown, with a white comma black spot and margins with 7 silver and silver pearls bordered ringed in brown, not present in absence of brown-ringed spots. mark on the hindwing. pearls bordered with red chevrons. with black chevrons. similar Dark Green Fritillary. 63 – 69mm 55 – 60mm 44 – 47mm 41 – 44mm 60 – 67mm

Silver-washed Fritillary Speckled Wood Wall Marbled White Argynnis paphia Marsh Fritillary Pararge aegeria Melanargia galathea Euphydrias aurinia The largest of the fritillary butterflies. Upperside deep brown with Similar to a fritillary, distinguished by Distinctive black and white Upperside with yellow, orange Males richer orange, with four black creamy-yellow markings on both wings. the ‘eye’ spot on the forewings and markings. Underside pattern and brown chequered markings. sex brands (thickened veins) on the Three black eye spots with white pupils three or four ‘eye’ spots on the similar on both sexes, hindwing Females larger and paler forewing. Underside of both on hind wing, one on forewing. hindwing. Underside dull, mottled black on male and than males. sexes with silver washes or streaks. Underside mottled pale brown. brown, ‘eye’ spots visible. browny yellow on female. 42 – 48mm 72 – 76mm 47 – 50mm 44 – 46mm 53 – 58mm

Meadow Brown Grayling Maniola jurtina Hipparchia semele tithonus Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus pamphilus Males chocolate brown with orange-ringed Usually rests with wings closed. Distinguished from the similar ‘eye’ spot on forewing; females with ‘eye’ spot Upperside dark brown (female Usually rests with wings closed. Underside dull brown and well Brown by orange colouring on and splash of orange on forewing. Underside paler than male), with white Smaller and paler than other brown camouflaged, two prominent upperside of both forewing and with prominent ‘eye’ spots on forewing fringe. Several ‘eye’ spots on butterflies. Underside of forewing ‘eye’ spots on the forewing visible hindwing. White spots on underside and two small black spots upper and underside. pale orange with black ‘eye’ spot. on underside. hindwing (black on ). noticeable on hindwing. 48 – 52mm 34 – 38mm 55 – 60mm 40 – 47mm 50 – 55mm Flight times Status/ Butterflies Day-flying Butterfly Regional Trend* Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Small Skipper C / U Grassy areas, woodland glades and rides If you see what looks like a butterfly on Dartmoor but it is not in the in decline Large Skipper C / U Areas with long grass, scrubby areas, woodland rides identification guide overleaf, it could be a day-flying . There Dingy Skipper R / NA Open, sunny including woodland rides and clearings, heathland and quarries are over 100 species of day-flying moth in Britain, compared to 59 British butterflies remain a cause for Grizzled Skipper R / NA Open, sunny habitats including woodland rides and clearings, heathland and quarries species of butterfly. Some of the more common ones you might Butterflies of conservation concern, with just over Clouded Yellow M / NA Sunny, open, flowery come across are included below. half of our native species in decline. Four butterflies and over 60 Brimstone C / I Scrubby , hedgerows, woodland rides or glades moths became extinct in the last century. Butterfly Conservation There are a number of differences between most moths and Large White C / U Gardens and allotments aims to halt and reverse these declines by working closely with butterflies, but there is no hard and fast rule which separates them. Small White C / I Gardens, allotments and fields of Oil-seed Rape conservation partners and landowners to create a world rich in In general moths are active at night and butterflies are active during Dartmoor Green-veined White C / I Hedgerows, riverbanks and damp vegetation butterflies for future generations to enjoy. the day; moths tend to hold their wings flat against their body when Orange-tip C / U Damp, grassy habitats Butterfly Conservation has been conserving butterflies on resting, while butterflies tend to rest with wings held vertically; National Park Dartmoor for 20 years. By working with partners, including and the antennae of butterflies tend to be clubbed, rather than the Brown Hairstreak R / NA Hedgerows, scrub and woodland conservation charities, landowners and farmers, we have turned feathery tips of many moths’ antennae. Green Hairstreak L / U Moorland, heathland, chalk downland, woodland rides the fortunes of some of our most threatened species around. Purple Hairstreak L / NA Oak trees in mature woodland, parkland and hedgerows Pocket Guide White-letter Hairstreak R / NA Elm in hedgerows and woodlands Above right: Marsh Fritillary. JIM ASHER Cinnabar Small Copper C / U Unimproved grassland, woodland rides and glades dark ground colour with strip of bright red Brown Argus R / NA Heathland, woodland clearings, road verges, chalk grassland along the top of the forewing. Underwing Common Blue C / U Sunny sheltered areas , woodland clearings, grassy areas is also bright red in colour. Holly Blue C / S Hedgerows, woodland rides, gardens Red Admiral C / S Sunny, open habitats, gardens, flower-rich areas White Admiral R / NA Woodland rides and glades Silver Y Painted Lady M / D Dry, open, sunny areas dull grey or brown, with central silver Small Tortoiseshell C / I Sunny, open habitats spots in the shape of the letter ‘Y’. Peacock C / S Sunny, open habitats, woodland rides and glades Comma C / U Open woodland, woodland edges, gardens Pearl-bordered Fritillary L / D Open, sunny bracken habitats Six-spot Burnet Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary L / I Woodland glades and clearings, damp grassland areas similar colours to the Cinnabar but instead of High Brown Fritillary R / U Open, sunny bracken habitat a red stripe it has six red spots on its wing. Dark Green Fritillary R / NA Open, sunny bracken habitats, moorland, woodland rides & clearings Silver-washed Fritillary L / S Sunny rides and glades in woodland, woody hedgerows Marsh Fritillary R / I Damp tussocky grassland (chalk downland in Dorset) Chimney Sweeper Speckled Wood C / S Woodland rides and glades, hedgerows, gardens sooty black colour with white fringe Wall L / D Short, open grassland, stony tracks, cliffs, quarries at the tip of the forewing. Marbled White L / S Unimproved grassland, flowery meadows Above: Orange-tip. IAIN H LEACH Grayling L / NA Dry heathland, chalk or limestone grassland, quarries, coastal habitats Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk-moth Gatekeeper C / D Hedgerows and woodland with wide sunny rides Butterfly monitoring is carried out to help us understand what is fast flying moth that resembles a Meadow Brown C / S Flowery open grassland areas, verges, woodland rides happening to our butterflies, and the data we collect helps us to bumblebee, hovering in mid-air to feed Ringlet C / S Tall grassland, woodland rides and glades direct our conservation resources where they are most needed. If from flowers. A nationally rare moth and Small Heath C / U Heathland, dry grassland, coastal dunes you would like to get involved with recording butterflies, please tricky to see, lives in wet grassland Occasional/possible flight time *Status/Regional Trend: get in touch with Butterfly Conservation (contact details are on the (C) Common (R) Rare (L) Locally Common (M) Migrant (D) Decline habitats on Dartmoor. Peak flight period reverse of this guide). (I) Increase (S) Stable (U) Uncertain (NA) Not assessed

Butterflies can be enjoyed on Dartmoor during most months of the year. A warm and sunny day in January or February might offer the Walking route to view Where to find out more chance to see a Peacock or a Red Admiral, having awoken from There are many excellent guides to British Discover their winter . A few weeks later a Brimstone or a Small butterflies available, including: Tortoiseshell might reveal itself, and by April the butterfly season is fritillaries at Aish Tor • WildGuides: Britain’s Butterflies by David Newland, upon us, with many other species beginning to emerge as spring Located in the gorgeous Dart Valley, Aish Tor is a special place Robert Still, Andy Swash & David Tomlinson moves into summer. for butterflies. Managed by the Wildlife Trust, this nature • Pocket Guide to the Butterflies of & Dartmoor’s Dartmoor is a stronghold for some of Britain’s rarest fritillary reserve is home to five species of fritillary butterfly. In spring the by Richard Lewington butterflies, including our most rapidly declining species, the High first to emerge is the Pearl-bordered Fritillary (April-May), closely Brown Fritillary. This large, bright orange butterfly is faring well on followed by the Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary (May-June), then as Other useful and interesting books are: the steep, south facing bracken slopes in the Dart Valley, assisted you move into the summer months the High Brown Fritillary (July), • WildGuides: Britain’s Day-flying moths by David butterflies… by conservation management undertaken by the Devon Wildlife Newland, Robert Still & Andy Swash Dark Green Fritillary (July) and Silver-washed Fritillary (July-August) Trust and Butterfly Conservation. Populations of Pearl-bordered all emerge to put on a dazzling display as they glide gracefully over • The Wildlife of Dartmoor by John Walters and Fritillary can be seen on warm and sunny days in late April or early the warm bracken slopes. It’s not just fritillaries that are found here, Norman Baldock May, gliding gracefully over bracken slopes in search of violets. The Dartmoor is home to 38 species of butterfly, you can also see Brimstone, Green Hairstreak, Grayling, Purple iRecord Butterflies app exquisite Marsh Fritillary is found in many of Dartmoor’s valleys, and offers fantastic opportunities to view them Hairstreak, Small Heath and Wall. Download the free iRecord Butterflies app to help making its home in the wet grassland that is found here. Lookout The reason why this site is so good for the fritillaries is because you identify butterflies you see and to submit in a stunning landscape. Its diverse range for the impressive Silver-washed Fritillary as it along wooded of the warm south facing bracken slopes, which contain a your sightings to Butterfly Conservation. It is of habitats, including moorland, heathland, paths and glades. Other special species can also be spotted on healthy population of violets (the fritillarie’s foodplant). Butterfly available in the iTunes and Google app stores. Dartmoor, including the Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Green woodland, valleys and farmland, support a Conservation and the Devon Wildlife Trust work together to Right: Green Hairstreak, Wall and Grayling. Hairstreak. IAIN H LEACH For information about local events and guided wealth of butterflies, including some very rare manage the site for these rare butterflies, carrying out works to walks, visit the Devon Branch Butterfly Conservation website: care for the habitat found here. species found in only Walk: This circular walk starts and finishes www.butterfly-conservation.org a few locations at the Newbridge car park and takes in Britain. you through the prime fritillary facebook.com/savebutterflies instagram.com/savebutterflies Butterflies vary areas. From the car park walk twitter.com/savebutterflies down the tarmac lane, keeping the in their flight river on your left. Take the footpath This leaflet has been created as part of Butterfly Conservation’s periods and the that branches off to the left, walking Heritage Lottery Fund ‘All the Moor Butterflies’ project. The project type of habitat they through the woodland. Soon the path aims to conserve the threatened butterflies and moths of Dartmoor, exits the woodland and you reach the lower slopes of Aish & Bodmin Moor. Find out more online: use. This guide will www.butterfly-conservation.org/allthemoor Tor. Keep an eye out for Fritillaries here as they over the help you identify all the bracken. Take the right hand path that branches off up SPECIAL THANKS TO DEBBIE CHESHIRE, IAIN H LEACH, JIM ASHER, KEITH WARMINGTON, species you are likely to the slope, enabling you to climb up to the higher ground. The MARK PARSONS, MARTIN WARREN, PATRICK CLEMENT, PETER EELES, RICHARD FOX, SIMON PHELPS, STEVEN CHESHIRE AND TIM MELLING FOR PROVIDING PHOTOGRAPHS. come across, and show path bends round to the right, veering east and heading back you when and where to towards the minor road. When you reach the road follow it back down the hill and it will take you back to the car park. For further information please contact: see them. Distance: The walk is 2.8km and can take up to 1 hour to Butterfly Conservation complete. It involves a steep climb so appropriate footwear T: 01929 400209 E: [email protected] is advised. Dartmoor National Park Authority Location: Newbridge car park post code is TQ13 7NT and T: 01626 832093 E: [email protected] the grid reference is SX710708. It is approximately 3 miles from Ashburton and can be reached by taking the B3352 exit Butterfly Conservation from the A38. Company limited by guarantee, registered in (2206468) Right: High Brown Fritillary. IAIN H LEACH Registered Office: Manor Yard, East Lulworth, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 5QP Above: Pearl-bordered Fritillary. KEITH WARMINGTON Charity registered in England and Wales (254937) and in Cover image: Marsh Fritillary on Cuckoo Flower. TIM MELLING Crown copyright and database rights 2018 Ordnance Survey 100024842 (SCO39268) VAT No GB 991 2771 89