Butterflies and Day-Flying Moths of Tayside & Fife
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Butterflies and day-fl yin g moths of Tay si de & Fi fe an id enti fication guide Butterfly Conservation is a UK charity, with 15,000 members (over 1000 in Scotland). We work closely with local communities, landowners, the Scottish Government, Scottish Natural Heritage and other conservation partners to safeguard Scotland’s butterflies and moths and their habitats, by: Advising landowners on managing land for butterflies and moths. Carrying out surveys, monitoring and research on our most threatened species. Training volunteers to enable them to take action for butterflies and moths. Making recommendations to the Scottish Government on its environmental policies. Encouraging everyone to cherish and enjoy butterflies and moths. Join us! You can support us in this vital work by joining Butterfly Conservation. With an annual membership you will receive an interesting and informative welcome pack, a colourful magazine Butterfly three times a year and membership of your local branch of Butterfly Conservation. Our local branches run public butterfly and moth events throughout the year. To join on-line or for further information, please go to www.butterfly-conservation.org. To find out what is going on in your area , go to www.eastscotland-butterflies.org.uk Dark Green Fritillary Butterflies and moths are beautiful insects and a joy to Scotland Office observe. This guide will help you identify all the butterflies Balallan House 24 Allan Park Stirling FK8 2QG and some of the common day-flying moths that occur in Tel: 01786 447753 Email: scotland butterfly-conservation.org @ Perthshire and Angus (outside of the Cairngorms National www.butte rfly-conservation.org Park), Fife and Dundee. Butterfly Conservation Company, limited by guarantee, registered in England (2206468). Registered Office: Manor Yard, East Lulworth, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 5QP. The chart inside shows which species are on the wing at a Charity registered in England & Wales (254937) and in Scotland (SCO39268) given time, and suggests some of the best and most easily Photographs by: Jim Asher, Ken Barry, Peter Burgess, Peter Eeles, Dave Green, Neil Gregory, Paul Kirkland, Tony Mainwood, accessible places in the region for you to see them. We hope Richard Mearns, Mark Parsons, Nicolas Picozzi, Paul Pugh, Scott Shanks, Robert Thompson, Martin Warren and David Whitaker. this leaflet will encourage you to learn more about these Map: © Ashworth Maps and Interpretation Ltd 2011 beautiful insects, and to send us your records. Printed on 100% recycled paper made from post-consumer waste bc0125 1 2 2 YELLOWS & WHITES 1. Clouded Yellow 4. Green-veined White Colias croceus Pieris napi 57-62mm 40-52mm A migrant to the UK from Generally this is the most the Continent, this butterfly is common species of the whites seen in low numbers in most to be seen in the countryside. years, but occasionally it Unlike the two “cabbage whites” arrives in very large numbers. above, the Green-veined White It is most frequently seen feeds on wild crucifers and is between May and September not a garden pest. The green along the coast, but it cannot veins on the underside of the survive the winter. wing distinguish this from other 3 3 4 white butterflies and moths, 2. Large White but they can fade with wear Pieris brassicae and are less distinct in second 63-70mm generation butterflies. One of This is our largest white the first butterflies of spring, butterfly and a strong flier. it flies all summer. The caterpillars feed on brassicas such as Cabbage 5. Orange-tip and Broccoli, and are therefore Anthocharis cardamines disliked by gardeners. It is 45-50mm distinguishable from the Small Males are unmistakable with White by its larger size, darker their bright orange wing-tips, black wing-tips extending but females have no orange further down the wing edge, so could be confused with and bolder spots. It can be Small or Green-veined Whites. 4 5 5 seen on the wing from June However, Orange-tips have to September, when local more rounded wing tips and populations are supplemented distinctive mottled green by migrants from further undersides that can be seen south and the Continent. faintly through the upperwing. Their distinctive orange eggs 3. Small White can be found on the caterpillars’ Pieris rapae food plants - crucifers such as 38-57mm Cuckoo Flower, Garlic Mustard, The caterpillars feed on Honesty and Dame’s Violet. brassicas, but they cause less Flies mid-April to June. damage than those of the Large White. Easily confused with the Green-veined White which is similar in size, but the ‘UK Biodiversity Action Plan Species’ are those listed in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan upperside has dark tips to (UK BAP). These are the most threatened species in the UK, and are either undergoing the forewings, and it lacks the rapid declines, or have UK populations of European or international importance. What action green veins on the underside is needed for each species and habitat is determined at a combination of UK, country, of the wing. It is one of the regional and local levels. first butterflies to be seen in spring and flies all summer. Local Biodiversity Action Plans co-ordinate action to conserve wildlife at the local level. Action on the ground cannot take place without the enthusiasm of local people, and often depends on partnerships between communities, landowners, businesses, voluntary and public organisations, and the Council. www.taysidebiodiversity.co.uk or www.fifecoastandcountrysidetrust.com/biodiversity_1_2_25.html 6 7 8 HAIRSTREAKS AND BLUES 6. Green Hairstreak 9. Small Blue 11. Common Blue Callophrys rubi Cupido minimus Polyommatus icarus 27-34mm 20-30mm 29-36mm Despite the bright green UK Biodiversity Action Plan Species A widespread butterfly found appearance of this small butterfly, The smallest butterfly in the UK, in a variety of grassy habitats which sits with its wings closed, this dusky-coloured species almost anywhere its caterpillar's it is often difficult to spot. It now occurs at just a few sites foodplant, Bird's-foot Trefoil, prefers warm, sheltered sites along the Angus coast and at occurs. The beautiful and near woodland or along the just one or two remaining inland brightly-coloured males are very scrubby edges of moorland sites. It once occurred on the conspicuous, while the females where its caterpillars feed on disused railway lines around are generally blue-brown with Blaeberry (Bilberry), Gorse and Friockheim. It was recorded distinctive orange spots. It 8 9 9 heathers. The Green Hairstreak many years ago from usually has just one generation flies from mid-April to June. Carlingnose but is now almost a year, the adults flying between certainly extinct in Fife. The sole June and September. 7. Purple Hairstreak caterpillar foodplant is Kidney Favonius (=Neozephyrus) quercus Vetch. The day-flying and 12. Holly Blue 37-39mm much more common Chimney Celastrina argiolus A striking butterfly, but very Sweeper moth is rather similar, 30-35mm difficult to see as it feeds on but the Small Blue has a white This species has been honeydew in the canopy of border extending all around the recorded sporadically on oak and other trees. The adult wing. Flies from mid-May to the Fife coast in recent years, butterflies are best looked for late July. and now seems to be now in late afternoon or early well-established across the evening on warm days when 10. Northern Brown Argus Forth in Edinburgh. The they can be seen by scanning Plebeius (= Aricia) artaxerxes records suggest it is moving the tops of the oak trees with 26-35mm northwards, so one to look 10 10 11 binoculars. Occasionally they UK Biodiversity Action Plan Species out for! Check its silvery-blue fly down to nectar on bramble When newly-emerged this small underwings for identification. and other flowers. The butterfly has beautiful deep, Of the blue butterflies it is the caterpillars feed only on Oak. velvety brown upper wings. It one most likely to be seen Flies from late July to early could be confused with a female in gardens or parks, as it is September. There are few Common Blue, which can occur not dependent on flower-rich records from the area, probably in the same habitats, but the grasslands, like the Common due to under-recording, but pattern on the undersides and and Small Blues. There are records show it is present the white spot on each forewing two generations per year and near Auchterarder and Perth. distinguish it. Adults fly from it is on the wing primarily in early June to August. Colonies April/May and August. In early 8. Small Copper can be found by searching for spring the caterpillars feed Lycaena phlaeas its conspicuous white eggs laid on Holly, while in the summer 32-35mm on the upper side of the leaves Ivy is the main foodplant. This dainty butterfly is a of its sole food plant, Common 11 12 12 widespread species found in Rock-rose. It occurs widely in a range of habitats, including Perthshire and Angus wherever gardens. Its caterpillars feed on the food plant occurs, primarily Common and Sheep's Sorrel. on steep, open sunny slopes The spring and summer broods where there is plenty of bare can overlap, so adults can be ground. It can also be found seen from late April to late at one or two isolated sites September, although they are along Fife’s south coast. rarely abundant. The butterfly can often be seen nectaring on ragwort in the late summer. 13 13 14 VANESSIDS AND FRITILLARIES 13. Red Admiral 16. Peacock 19. Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary Vanessa atalanta Aglais (=Inachis) io Boloria selene 67-72mm 63-69mm 41-44mm This is a familiar and distinctive An unmistakable butterfly and UK Biodiversity Action Plan Species garden butterfly that migrates to a regular garden visitor, the This species is very similar the UK every year from southern Peacock has become a very in appearance to the Pearl- Europe and North Africa.