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Home , Balmaha, Crianlarich, Dalrigh, Inversnaid, Lochearnhead, Mugdock

Site name How to get there Main interest OS grid ref and map no. of car park and other location details More information

Top sites to see butterflies Get involved! Send in your butterfly sightings! 1 Ben Lawers NNR Follow signs off the A827 east of Mountain Ringlet National Trust for Mountain Visitor Centre at NN609379 (51) National Trust for Scotland Contribute to Butterfly Conservation's general recording scheme for butterflies - (above about 500m) - take nature trail track up the hill Ph 01567 820397 or 820988 in Lomond and Rural 'Butterflies for the New Millennium' (BNM). Records of all butterflies are important, even of the most common species, so we have up-to-date information on the locations of butterfly 2 Take the road to off the A82 Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary Car park just off the A82 at NN343292 (51) Strathfillan Development Trust colonies to help to direct conservation priorities and action in Scotland. All you need to do is send Community Woodlands between and Tyndrum Ph 01838 400545 butterflies Choose warm, sunny days to look for butterflies, when they are in your records to the relevant BNM Co-ordinator. You must provide details of which butterflies you more active. Always take a map and in more remote sites, a compass. saw and roughly how many, the site name and grid reference from an Ordinance Survey map, 3 Acharn Forest From Killin take the road towards Lix Toll Variety of butterflies along track Use the small parking area just east of the bridge at NN554309 (51) None available Many of the paths are uneven so wear footwear with good ankle your name, and the date. More information is available from Butterfly Conservation Scotland verges - esp first km from parking of Lomond and support and for longer walks take warm, waterproof clothing as (see contacts on back page) or visit www.butterfly-conservation.org. area up hill weather conditions can change quickly. A mobile phone, snack BNM Co-ordinator for Scotland: Rural Stirling Richard Sutcliffe, 68 Rowan Drive, , G61 3HJ 4 Glen Ogle cycle track The cycle track is between Range of butterflies including Glen Oglehead at NN559284 or at NN592239 (51) National Park Breadalbane Area Office and drink are good safety recautions. Remember to take a notebook Tel 0141 942 1563 Lochearnhead and Lix Toll off the A85 Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary Ph 01567 830430 and pen too, to record your butterfly sightings! Email: [email protected] an identification guide 5 At the west end of Aberfoyle Main Street, Range of butterflies including For woodland use Inversnaid Hotel at NN337088 (56). RSPB Glasgow Office take the B829 signposted to Inversnaid Scotch Argus, Large Heath, For hill ground use Garrison Farm car park at NN348097 (56) Ph 0141 3319093 Green & Purple Hairstreak, Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary

6 Little Drum Wood Take the A84 from , then the Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary Little Drum car park at NN549062 (57) Woodland Trust Scotland Quick guide to flight periods A821 for c5 miles along Loch Venachar - visit www.glen-finglas.info 1 mile before Brig o'Turk Species Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 7 Callander Meadows The site is in the middle of Callander, Range of butterflies, Riverside car park: NN627079 (57) (site is wheelchair accessible) National Park Area Office Clouded Yellow next to the Riverside car park especially Ringlet and Orange-tip Ph 01877 382034 Large White Small White 8 Aberfoyle Wildlife Site The site is in the centre of Aberfoyle, Range of butterflies including Tourist Information Centre car park NN522009 (57) National Park Trossachs Area Office Green-veined White west of the main car park next to the Rnglet and possible Ph 01877 382034 Orange-tip Tourist Information Centre Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary Green Hairstreak 9 Burnside Wood, Park in Kippen and walk down Oakwood Eleven species including Anywhere in Kippen NN6694 (57) Kippen Community Woodland Group Purple Hairstreak to the football pitch from where access Orange-tips, Ringlets and Ph 01786 870247 Small Copper can be gained Painted Lady Common Blue Red Admiral 10 Sallochy Follow the B837 from north Purple Hairstreak Forestry Commission car park NS379958 (56). Forestry Commission Scotland along , Sallochy is on the - need a sunny day! Then walk south on the for c. 20 mins to Ph 01877 382383 Painted Lady left three miles north of a boulder outcrop at NS 387951 which overlooks oak canopy Purple Hairstreak Small Tortoiseshell Peacock 11 Cashel Follow the B837 from Drymen north Scotch Argus, Green Hairstreak, Follow track to buildings and pull off at NN440941 (56) National Park Balmaha Area Office Small Pearl-b'd Fritillary along Loch Lomond, Cashel is on the Small Pearl-bordered and Ph 01360 870470 Butterflies are beautiful insects Pearl-bordered Fritillary right two miles north of Balmaha Dark Green Fritillary, and a joy to observe as well as identify. Dark Green Fritillary 12 Balloch Castle Country Park Follow signs off the A811 Variety of species including Park in main car park at NS392822 (56). Best place is north of the castle Country Park Ranger Service Mountain Ringlet This guide will help you identify all 22 species of Orange-tip and Ringlets Ph 01389 758 216 Scotch Argus butterflies which occur in the Lomond & Rural Stirling Meadow brown 13 Loch Ardinning Off the A81 between Green Hairstreak and Layby at NS564779 (64) Scottish Wildlife Trust area. It also provides a table so you can easily see Ringlet and Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary Ph 0131 3127765 what is "on the wing" at a given time, and a section Small Heath 14 Country Park Follow the signs from the A81 Range of butterflies Visitor Centre car park NS547779 (64) Ranger Service on the best places in the area to see butterflies. Large Heath Glasgow to Aberfoyle road to the esp. in late summer. Peitches Moor for Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Ph 0141 9566586 Craigend Visitor Centre Mugdock Wood for Purple Hairstreak 1 6 10 14 17 20 WHITES AND YELLOWS HAIRSTREAKS, VANESSIDS AND FRITILLARIES 14 Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary BROWNS 20 Ringlet 1 Clouded Yellow COPPERS AND BLUES 10 Red Admiral SoCC 17 Mountain Ringlet m 42 - 48mm, f 46 - 52mm m 52 - 58mm, f 54 - 62mm 6 Green Hairstreak m 64 - 72mm, f 70 - 78mm m 35 - 41mm, f 38 - 44mm SoCC, LBAP The Ringlet has a very dark, A migrant to the UK from the 27 - 34mm A familiar and distinctive garden This species occurs in damp, m 28 - 36mm, f 28 - 38mm velvety appearance when newly About Butterfly Conservation Continent, this butterfly is well- Despite the bright green butterfly that migrates to the UK grassy habitats, woodland Our only true montane butterfly, emerged. Males tend to be smaller Butterfly Conservation is the UK charity taking action to save butterflies, moths and their habitats. known for its mass immigrations appearance of this small butterfly, every year from southern Europe clearings and moorlands. this species is found above 350m, and darker than females with We work with a wide range of partners to conserve butterflies, moths and their habitats by: when they arrive in huge numbers which always sits with its wings and North Africa. It can breed in The caterpillars feed on marsh usually on south-facing slopes hardly any markings on the in "Clouded Yellow years". Less closed, it is often difficult to spot. Scotland but cannot survive our violet. It can be confused with the where the caterpillars feed on mat upperwings. The "ringlets" on the n Advising landowners and managers on conserving and restoring important habitats common in Scotland, but in good It prefers warm, sheltered sites on winter. The major influx starts in much rarer Pearl-bordered Fritillary grass. It only flies in bright underwings vary in number and n Purchasing and managing land for threatened butterflies, moths and other wildlife years may be seen between May open birch woodland, moorland late May and is re-inforced until or the Dark Green Fritillary (see sunshine, but can be disturbed size and can be virtually absent. Carrying out surveys, monitoring and other essential research 2 7 14 17 20 and September. and edges or clearings of conifer August, with adults being seen below). Flies from late May to late from the ground in quite dull It favours tall grassland on damp, n Lobbying government and its agencies to influence land use policy 2 Large White plantations where its caterpillar until November. The caterpillars July/early August. weather. It is similar to the larger heavy soils, where the caterpillars n m 58mm, f 63mm food plant, blaeberry (bilberry), is feed on stinging nettles. 15 Pearl-bordered Fritillary and brighter Scotch Argus, but feed on coarse grasses. It flies, Our largest white butterfly and found. Flies in May and early June. 11 Painted Lady PS m 38 - 46mm, f 43 - 47mm does not have white eyespots. It is even in dull conditions, in July a strong flier. Feeds on brassica 7 Purple Hairstreak m 58 - 70mm, f 62 - 74mm This is a rare species in the area. found in the Breadalbane Hills and and August. crops as caterpillars and is m 33 - 40mm, f 31 - 38mm Another migrant, this species is It can be distinguished from the Ben Lomond usually from late 21 Small Heath Join Butterfly Conservation! therefore disliked by gardeners. A striking butterfly which feeds unable to over-winter in any part of much more common Small Pearl- June to early August. m 33mm, f 37mm You can directly support us in this vital work by joining Butterfly Conservation. Distinguishable from the Small on honey dew in the upper canopy the UK and re-colonises each year bordered Fritillary by close 18 Scotch Argus A bright but inconspicuous With an annual membership you will receive an interesting and informative White by its larger size, darker of oak trees. Colonies usually from mainland Europe, sometimes observation of the underside of the m 44 - 48mm, f 46 - 52mm butterfly that flies only in sunny welcome pack, a colourful magazine Butterfly three times a year and membership black wing tips extending down favour a particular tree, and the in spectacular numbers (such as in hind wing: It has a smaller central This butterfly is widespread in conditions and always keeps its of your local branch of Butterfly Conservation. Our local branches carry out the wing edge, and bolder spots. butterflies are best looked for in 1995 and 2003). They can often spot, two (not seven) white central Scotland but has declined in the wings closed at rest. It occurs practical conservation work as well as running public moth and butterfly events. 3 8 11 15 18 Flies June - September. late afternoon or early evening be seen congregating in areas with cells and all cells have a much southern part of its range. It can on grasslands in dry, well-drained 3 Small White on sunny days when they can thistles, which serve as both a paler border compared to the be found in the north and west of situations where the sward is short For a membership form or for further information, please contact us. 38 - 57mm be seen "fidgeting" in the canopy, foodplant for the caterpillars and black border of the Small Pearl- the area up to an altitude of about but sparse and there are fescues, The caterpillars feed on brassicas, and are best seen by lying on a nectar source for the adults. bordered Fritillary. In addition, this 500m. The Scotch Argus breeds meadow grasses and bents upon but they cause less damage than the ground and scanning the tops The peak of immigration usually species has more specific habitat in tall, damp grassland where the which the caterpillar feeds. those of the Large White. Easily of the oak trees with binoculars. occurs in June, and adults can be requirements, only being found in caterpillars feed on a variety of In Scotland it only has one confused with the more common Occasionally they fly down to seen until October or November. dry glades, on south-facing slopes grasses. In sunshine males can generation from late June to the Green-veined White which is the ground to nectar on flowers. 12 Small Tortoiseshell with bracken. It flies earlier in the be very active, but cloudy weather end of August. similar in size, but the upperside Flies late July to mid September. m 45 - 55mm, f 52 - 62mm season (late April to the end of can cause them to stop flying 22 Large Heath has dark tips to the forewings, and It is certainly under-recorded in This well-known butterfly can be May) and its main food plant is completely. It flies late in the SoCC, LBAP 35 - 40mm it lacks the "green veins" on the the area. seen in any month of the year in common dog violet. season, from late July to The Large Heath is restricted to 4 9 12 15 18 21 underside of the wing. It is often 8 Small Copper almost any habitat. It is familiar in 16 Dark Green Fritillary early September. wet, boggy habitats where its main one of the first butterflies to be m 26 - 36mm, f 30 - 40mm gardens and feeds on stinging 58 - 68mm 19 Meadow Brown food plant, hare's-tail cottongrass seen and flies all summer. This dainty butterfly is a nettles as a caterpillar. It over- This is a large butterfly that feeds m 40 - 50mm, f 42 - 60mm grows. It always sits with its wings 4 Green-veined White widespread species found in winters as an adult and is one of on violets as a caterpillar. It is One of the most common closed and can be distinguished 40 - 52mm a range of habitats. Its caterpillars the first butterflies to emerge in the widespread and is often found in butterflies in the area, the Meadow from the Small Heath by its duller The most common of the whites, feed on common and sheep's spring. Adults are regularly found flower-rich habitats with patches of Brown can be seen in many grassy colour, spots on the hind wing, Scotland Office this species feeds on wild crucifers sorrel. It can be seen in May and in houses, sheds and outbuildings scrub. It can be confused with the habitats flying even in dull weather and larger size. Flies in June and is not a garden pest. June with a second generation seeking hibernation sites. other two fritillaries in the area but when most other butterflies are and July. Butterfly Conservation Scotland Balallan House 24 Allan Park Stirling FK8 2QG The green veins on the underside in August and September. 13 Peacock is a more powerful flier, is much inactive. The caterpillar feeds on Email: [email protected] Tel: 0870 770 6151 of the wing distinguish this from 9 Common Blue m 63 - 68mm, f 67 - 75mm larger and has a green background a variety of grasses. Males tend other white butterflies, but they can 29 - 36mm An unmistakable butterfly and a to the underside of its hind wing. It to be much darker than females, www.butterfly-conservation.org 5 9 12 16 19 fade with wear and are less distinct A widespread butterfly found regular garden visitor, feeding on flies during July and August. but the amount of orange on both in second generation butterflies. in a variety of grassy habitats nettles as a caterpillar. Its range is variable. The spotting pattern Flies all summer. from sea level to mountainsides, has expanded northwards in on the underside of the hindwing 5 Orange-tip almost anywhere that its Scotland in recent years following is also variable. Flies from late June 40 - 52mm caterpillar's foodplant, widespread immigration from the to early September. Feeds on wild crucifers such as bird's-foot-trefoil, occurs. south in the mid 1990s. Often one Photographs by: cuckoo flower and garlic mustard. The brightly-coloured males of the first butterflies to be seen Males are unmistakable with their are conspicuous, but females are in the Spring, having over-wintered Jim Asher, Alan Barnes, Paul Kirkland, Julie Stoneman, Martin Warren and David Whitaker bright orange wing-tips, but browner, often with little or no blue. as an adult, its offspring can be Butterfly Conservation is a registered charity and non-profit making company, limited by guarantee. females have no orange so In Scotland it usually has one seen from July to September, Registered Office: Manor Yard, East Lulworth, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 5QP could be confused with Small or generation a year, the adults flying in much larger numbers. Registered in England No. 2206468 - Registered Charity No. 254937 9 13 16 19 22 Green-veined Whites. However, between June and September. Orange-tips have distinctive Designed and produced by cellcreative 01942 681648 mottled green undersides that can Codes also be seen faintly from above PS Priority Species in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UKBAP) through the upperwing. Flies mid SoCC Species of Conservation Concern in the UKBAP April to early June and occasionally LBAP Local Biodiversity Action Plan species again in late August. Wing spans, m = male, f = female