Butterflies and Day Flying Moths of the Malvern Hills

nes

ar

Alan B

n and

ee

r

, David G

‘A full colour guide to the butterfl ies and day et Olesky

fl ying moths of the Malvern Hills to encourage Bridg people to get out recording and to identify y what they fi nd.’

Armitage,

Photographs b David Acknowledgements CONTENTS PAGE Compiled and edited by Susan Clarke and Jenny Joy, helped by many colleagues from Butterfl y Conservation, English Nature, Malvern Hills Introduction 3 AONB Offi ce, Malvern Hills Conservators as well as volunteers, landowners, Management of the Hills 4 The butterfl ies of the Malvern Hills 5 butterfl y and moth recorders, transect walkers and others who provided What are butterfl ies and moths? 5 material, information, advice and commented on the draft. Many thanks to: Why look for butterfl ies and day-fl ying moths? 5 David Armitage, Mike Bradley, Trevor Bucknall, Colin and Helen Dolding, Life cycle 6 Ian Duncan, David Green, Dr Gilbert Greenall, Cherry Greenway, Michael How to identify 7 Harper, Ian Hart, Rob Harvard, Peter Holmes, Chris Johnson, Richard When and where to look 7 Flight periods of butterfl ies and moths 9 Newton, Bridget Oleksy, John Tilt, Trevor Trueman, Gordon Whiting, Mike Sites to visit 10 Williams and Digby Wood. (map centre pages) Recording your sightings 11 Butterfl y research 12 Transect information 12 Species accounts 15 Small Skipper 15 Large Skipper 16 Brimstone 16 Large White, Small White & Green-veined White 16 Orange-tip 17 Green Hairstreak 17 White-letter Hairstreak 18 Small Copper 18 Common Blue 18 Holly Blue 19 Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock & Comma 19 High Brown Fritillary 20 Silver-washed Fritillary 21 Speckled Wood 21 Marbled White 21 Grayling 22 Small Heath 22 Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown & Ringlet 23 Six-spot Burnet 24 Drab Looper 24 Hummingbird Hawkmoth 24 Scarlet Tiger 25 Cinnabar moth 25 Burnet Companion 25 Important information. Useful addresses and web sites Back page

Photographs of High Brown Fritillary – Alan Barnes, Six-spot Burnet and Gatekeeper– Photographs of High Brown Fritillary – Bridget Oleksy and Common Blue – Richard Newton

1 2 Introduction Management of the Hills

The Malvern Hills are famous for their their own Acts of Parliament, with The Malvern Hills Conservators High Brown Fritillary caterpillars to beauty, complex geology and their conserving the wildlife as well as own and manage the vast majority feed on. natural mineral springs and wells. They keeping the Hills and Commons open of the Malvern Hills and Commons themselves, with the remainder owned Other conservation work is focused on run north to south for approximately for public enjoyment. and managed by other local landowners. bracken and scrub control. Rolling helps 13 km and yield amazing views over The management of the 3000 acres to weaken the bracken and gives wild Herefordshire, Worcestershire, of Hills and Commons is incredibly fl owers a chance in the grassland. The the Severn Vale and on towards varied and uses a wide range of tools scrub is cut on a cycle, always retaining the Cotswolds. The Malvern and strategies to improve the Hills for some for the butterfl ies and moths Hills form about a 10th of the wildlife and people. dependant on it. The scrub cutting and area offi cially designated as an fence moving is back breaking work Most of the work involves management and is carried out by the Malvern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural of grassland, bracken and scrub. All of Conservators staff along with some Beauty (AONB). The Malvern these habitats have a value to wildlife committed volunteers. These specially Hills AONB Partnership is and especially to butterfl ies and they managed wildlife areas are mapped charged with conserving and all require management to keep them using sophisticated techniques that enhancing the natural beauty of in the best condition. record this good management year on the wider area and it does this by year so that the Conservation Offi cer Photograph by Gordon Whiting working with many landowners within In order to improve and maintain at the Malvern Hills Conservators can the value of the grassland and the keep track of progress. the designation. The Hills themselves The geological diversity and varied bracken, sheep and cattle graze the topography of the Malverns hills and commons. Due to the poor Using these techniques, alongside the produces a richness of habitats economics of livestock farming grazing, helps to keep the Hills and within a fairly small area. This much of the grazing on the hills and Commons in a natural balance. Ideally supports different land uses commons had ceased and the wildlife the level of grazing should eventually such as quarrying (in the past), was beginning to suffer. The Malvern control the levels of bracken and scrub arable farming, stock grazing, Hills Conservators have encouraged on its own providing lots of good habitat forestry, as well as tourism. grazing back onto the Hills through for butterfl ies with less intervention support for local graziers and even from people. The area also includes enclosed by running their own fl ocks of sheep and open common land. It all and herds of cattle, moving electric combines to produce a mosaic fences around the Hills to keep them Rob Havard (Conservation Offi cer) Photograph by Bridget Oleksy of different vegetations, in good condition. The grazing helps Malvern Hills Conservators including rough grassland, bracken to increase the amount of wild fl owers are largely owned and managed by slopes, scrub, deciduous woodland and in the grassland to help butterfl ies like the Dingy Skipper and breaks up the the Malvern Hills Conservators and heath. It is this diversity that makes bracken layers to encourage violets for the Conservators are charged, under the Malvern Hills a haven for wildlife, 3 4 The butterfl ies of the Malvern Hills

A large variety of butterfl ies and moths butterfl ies that live on the Malvern can be slipped into a pocket. A walk a butterfl y as it searches for places to can be found within the special habitats Hills, but includes the most common can be enhanced by looking out for lay eggs or to fi nd a mate can be most provided by the Malvern Hills and one and some of the rarities, special to this these colourful insects and perhaps interesting, and even casual observers of the rarest of these is the High Brown area. It also shows a few of the day- recording what you see. If you regularly often come up with totally new Fritillary. Until the 1950s this was a fl ying moths that often get mistaken for walk a site then it can be rewarding to information about a species. widespread butterfl y across much of butterfl ies. note the changing species throughout England and Wales, but it has since the summer. Children can get quite If you want to share your interest then declined rapidly. The Malvern Hills are What are butterfl ies and moths? absorbed trying to spot butterfl ies there are local groups which offer fi eld one of the few areas where this butterfl y and can become extremely good at trips, social events and talks where you can still be found, but its population Butterfl ies and moths comprise the order identifi cation surprisingly quickly. can learn more about Lepidoptera. has severely declined here as well. of insects called Lepidoptera (meaning The behaviour of butterfl ies and moths Conservation of this butterfl y has been scale wing). We think of moths as is fascinating and surprisingly there is of high importance to the Malvern Hills being very different to butterfl ies, but still much that is unknown. Watching AONB who have been working with they are actually extremely similar. the Malvern Hills Conservators and Butterfl ies fl y during the day but so do other local landowners coordinating many moths. Some moths will only fl y a project to reintroduce grazing to the during the day when disturbed from southern hills and thus conserve the resting in vegetation, but quite a few habitat for this most rare butterfl y. are truly day-fl ying. Both butterfl ies and moths have four life cycle stages Other butterfl ies of special interest are and different species spend differing the Dingy Skipper, Green Hairstreak, lengths of time in each of the stages. White-letter Hairstreak, Dark Green The adult stage is usually only a very Fritillary, Silver-washed Fritillary, short period in the total life span. Marbled White and Grayling. A notable new species in the area is the Essex Why look for butterfl ies and Skipper which was fi rst recorded on day-fl ying moths? Castlemorton Common in 2002. Butterfl ies and day-fl ying moths are With the exception of the Marbled easy to fi nd, easy to watch and not White, these species are not common too diffi cult to photograph. You don’t in this region. Marbled White are found need to sit for hours in a hide or carry in good numbers at certain sites, but is any equipment, although binoculars of particular interest as it is on the edge can be most useful. You don’t need to of its range here. be an expert in order to identify the common species and there are many Photographs by Susan Clarke, David Green and Bridget Oleksy This booklet cannot show all of the good, cheap identifi cation guides that 5 6 How to identify When and where to look

Use the pictures and descriptions to Most butterfl ies and day-fl ying moths fi nd the species that match what you will avoid fl ying in cold, windy or have seen. The diagram on page 7 will wet weather. You will see the greatest help by showing the body parts and number on sunny, warm days between terms used in the descriptions. 10 am and 5 pm. However, even in cold weather you may be able to fi nd some When you have made an identifi cation in sheltered habitats such as quarries then check against the fl ight periods or glades and a few, like the Ringlet on page 9. Sometimes butterfl ies and butterfl y, are happy to fl y in the rain. moths can be seen slightly outside of Interestingly, on very hot days (over their usual fl ight periods, but if the dates 28C) many butterfl ies will stop fl ying are very wrong, then the identifi cation and will sit deep in shade to avoid is probably wrong. overheating.

Photographs are most helpful. Even a poor photograph can show details If you want to see these insects close- missed in the fi eld. up then search for good nectar sources – that is plants that produce nectar on which adults can feed. Bramble, continued page 11

From left to right: Small Skipper - David Green Large Skipper - Richard Newton Large White - David Green Brimstone - Alan Barnes Small White - David Green Green-veined White - Richard Newton 7 8 Flight periods of butterfl ies and moths March April May June July Aug Sep Oct

6 spot Burnet M Brimstone Brown Argus

Burnet Companion D / M M Cinnabar M /

Clouded Yellow E Comma D Common Blue / M Dark Green Fritillary E Drab Looper Essex Skipper M Gatekeeper D Grayling / M Green Hairstreak Green-veined White High Brown Fritillary Holly Blue Hummingbird Hawkmoth Large Skipper Large White Limited parking at quarry, or nearby Pay and Display car Limited parking at quarry, park (SO765382). Surfaced tracks and marked trails. surfaced track/road. Pay and Display car park (SO765382) on edge of Common. Some surfaced paths. Pay and Display car park (SO765382) at base of hill. Some surfaced paths and marked trails. Limited roadside parking (SO758353). Permissive footpaths (Bromsberrow Estate). Pay and Display car park (SO764404), café, hotel Marked trails from car park. toilets nearby. Marbled White Access and facilities Great Paths and tracks. Park at North Malvern Quarry, Malvern Malvern or West eld Road. Paths and tracks. Car park on common. Peachfi E Marked trails from car park. toilets nearby. Meadow Brown Narrow-bord’d 5-spot Burnet Orange-tip

Peacock ying Purple Hairstreak See centre pages for map

Red Admiral = moderately easy walking over most of the site, but some steep or rough

Ringlet M Scarlet Tiger Silver-washed Fritillary ies and day-fl Small Copper Small Heath White-letter Hairstreak, White Admiral, Silver-washed Fritillary Holly Blue, Marbled White Free car park (SO759369). Unsurfaced paths and a Marbled Dark Green Fritillary, White, Burnets White Wall Silver-washed Fritillary, Brown, Drab Looper Hawkmoth Green Hairstreak, Marbled White, Grayling Many common species Pay and Display car park (SO764404), café, hotel Small Skipper moths Small Skipper, Copper, Marbled White, Comma Small Tortoiseshell Small White Speckled Wood White-letter Hairstreak Red bars - show the main fl ight period/s of each species. Some species have more than = Diffi cult walking, steep gradients and/or rough terrain over much of the site. = Diffi one brood per year, so more than one fl ight period is shown. Some have many broods D each year and the timing of gaps between broods can be unpredictable. In these cases, a = Easy walking over most of the site. 6. Gullet wood and quarry area 7. Midsummer Hill and Ragged Stone Hill 8. Castlemorton Common 5. Swinyard Hill Common Blue, Marbled 9. Chase End Hill and Whiteleaved Oak 4. Broad Down Grayling, Hummingbird, 1. North Hill and Hill area Table 3. Herefordshire Beacon/British Camp 2. Malvern Common Burnets, Small Tiger, Scarlet single bar without gaps is shown. Site Butterfl terrain. E Orange bars - show times when immigrant species might occasionally be seen, outside Sites to visit in the Malvern Hills of the usual period of sightings. 9 10 knapweeds, thistles, Hemp-agrimony, There are a few details that must be Butterfl y research web site on back page). Most Butterfl y Fleabane, Ragwort and Buddleia are provided if a record is to be of use. Conservation branches publish annual particularly good. Find a sheltered patch 1. An accurate date As part of the recording of Lepidoptera reports that detail the latest sightings, of nectar, wait patiently and fairly still 2. Where the species was seen. on the Malvern Hills, local people have conservation information and research until the insects land and feed. This is A six fi gure grid reference with a site been carrying out “butterfl y transects”. for their region. also a great way to get photographs. name is perfect (e.g. SO763399, British These are set routes that are walked by Camp), but if this is not possible then volunteers once each week from April The graph below illustrates the type of The main butterfl y season is from a photocopy of a map with a cross will to September, where all butterfl ies and information that can be collected by April/May to September/October do nicely. Site names alone can be day-fl ying moths seen along the routes butterfl y transects. Over the years, this although some butterfl ies will be seen confusing – there can be lots of Beacon earlier and also later. The table on page Hills in a county! 1. Common Blue butterfly at Castlemorton Common 9 shows the fl ight periods of the species 80 covered in this booklet. 3. What species was seen and how 70 many 60 Recording your sightings 4. Your name and address 50 40 Records are essential for conservation Other information can be added if you 30 and with many of our butterfl ies and wish, including copies of photographs 20 moths in serious decline, this is of great to confi rm identifi cation. 10 Total Number Counted Total importance. Without knowing about 0 the existence or population size of a The very best way to provide a record is 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 species on a particular site, it is diffi cult on standard forms that can be requested Year to consider any conservation measures. or downloaded from “Butterfl y It is not just the rare or endangered Conservation” (address and web site on are counted. The information collected can show how well species is doing at species that it is important to record and back page). These include instructions can be used to show what is happening each site. (Information is missing for often sightings of common species are on how to complete the form and how to each species on these sites, from 2001 due to Foot and Mouth Disease lacking, everyone thinks someone else to work out grid references. However, year to year. restricting access to the transect will have sent in the records. Actually, all records are valuable, even if they routes.) information about common species is are scribbled on a postcard! Butterfl y Conservation is always excellent at showing changes in habitat looking for new volunteers to train and all sightings provide a valuable Whatever method you use, records can to carry out transect walks. If you are historical record. be sent to “Butterfl y Conservation”. interested do contact your local branch

of Butterfl y Conservation (address and 11 12 Sites to visit in the Malvern Hills Worcestershire County Council 100015914 Worcestershire

13 14 Species accounts

The following pages give details of likely and possibly in some years none Large Skipper Rarity and habitat. Common. Found in some of the species that might be will be seen. (Ochlodes venata) almost any habitat. encountered on the Malvern Hills. A small, fast-fl ying, mottled orange- Similar species. 1.The Clouded Yellow Each account includes the following. · Similar species. These are brown butterfl y often found on can look slightly similar, but is usually other Malvern Hills species that could grassland. It can look rather like a moth yellow-orange in colour. It does have a · Description. The species look similar and cause confusion in and rests with its forewings held at an white form, but both forms have broad descriptions and the photographs identifi cation. angle to the hindwings. The male has black wing tips, unlike the Brimstone. highlight the features that you are most a dark mark across the forewing, but 2. The Large White can be mistaken for likely to see in the fi eld. So, if a butterfl y Small Skipper this is absent in the female. (Picture on female Brimstone, especially in fl ight, usually rests with its wings closed then (Thymelicus sylvestris) page 8). Forewing length: 15 mm (0.6 but unlike the Brimstone, it has black the underside only will be pictured. in). wing tips. It may help to refer to the diagram A small orange-brown butterfl y which on page 7 showing the structure of a “zooms” over grassland, often looking Rarity and habitat. Common. Found Large White butterfl y. rather like a moth. It rests with its in habitats where there is some rough (Pieris brassicae) forewings held at an angle to the grassland. Small White · Forewing length. This is the hindwings. The male has a dark mark (Pieris rapae) distance from the forewing tip to the across the forewing, but this is absent Similar species. Small Skipper (see Green-veined White point where it joins the body (see page in the female. (Picture on page 8). above). (Pieris napi) 7). This measurement can be taken Forewing length: 13 mm (0.5 in). even if the butterfl y or moth has its Large Skipper is on the wing before These three species are often lumped wings held shut. The length gives a Rarity and habitat. Common. Found Small Skipper and Essex Skipper is together under the description of rough idea of size, but there will be in habitats where there is some rough the last to appear. By mid-July all three “cabbage butterfl y”. individual differences and in many grassland. species can be fl ying together. The Green-veined White, as its name species there is also a small difference suggests, has black-greenish dusting in size between male and female. Similar species. 1. The Essex Skipper Brimstone along the wing veins, the amount of this looks almost identical. Even with (Gonepteryx rhamni) “dusting” varies between individuals. · Rarity and habitat. This is rarity experience, the two species are hard to (Picture on page 8). Forewing length: and habitat of a butterfl y or moth on distinguish. 2. The Large Skipper can One of the fi rst butterfl ies seen in early 23 mm (0.9 in). the Malvern Hills and surrounding be hard to tell apart from the Small spring. Most people recognise the The Small White can be easily confused area. This may differ from that in other Skipper in fl ight. The Large Skipper bright yellow wings of the male, but with the Green-veined White. It does locations. “Common” means large has a mottled pattern on the upper and may not know that the female is pale not have the dark dusting along wing numbers of that species will be seen underside unlike the plainer colouring greenish-white. This species always veins, but worn specimens can be hard each year. “Fairly common” means of the Small Skipper (see below). seems to hold the wings closed when to distinguish. (Picture on page 8). moderate to low numbers are likely be at rest. (Picture on page 8). Forewing Forewing length: 25 mm (1.0 in). seen each year. If a species is noted as length: 30 mm (1.2 in). The Large White also does not have ”Scarce” then very low numbers are dark colouring along the wing veins 15 16 and is usually distinguished from the Forewing length: 22 mm (0.8 in). White-letter Hairstreak white line across the underside has an other two species by its larger size. (Satyrium w-album) indistinct zigzag not a sharp-angled (Picture on page 8). Forewing length: Rarity and habitat. Common. Found in “W” shape on the hindwing. 30 mm (1.2 in). many places, but especially in damp habitats. Small Copper Rarity and habitat. Common. Found in (Lycaena phlaeas) most habitats. Similar species. Small and Green- veined White look similar in fl ight to A very beautiful copper-coloured Similar species. 1. Orange-tip females female Orange-tip, but they do not have small butterfl y. Often quite active and do not have an orange tip to their wings the mottled pattern on the underside of A small grey-brown butterfl y which noticeable. (Picture on front page, far and so can look like Small or Green- the hind wing (see page 17). can be seen nectaring on fl owers, but left). Forewing length: 15 mm (0.6 in). veined White. However, the underside spends much time in the tree canopy. of Orange-tip hindwings have a Green Hairstreak The upperside is dark brown, but it Rarity and habitat. Common. Found in mottled-greenish pattern (see below). (Callophrys rubi) nearly always holds the wings closed a wide-range of habitats. 2. Female Brimstones can look similar when at rest. It has a band of orange to Large White, but are a light green The upperside of this small butterfl y on the underside of the hindwing near Similar species. It is diffi cult to confuse this butterfl y with any other species. colour and do not have black wing is a nondescript brown, but it hardly to a small “tail”. There is a thin white line across the upper and hindwing tips. ever rests with its wings open and the underside, forming a sharp-angled Common Blue underside is bright green. It seldom fl ies “W” shape on the hindwing. Forewing (Polyommatus icarus) far, staying close to vegetation, often length: 15 mm (0.6 in). crawling over shrubs and so it can be The male is a bright blue and easily diffi cult to spot. (Picture on front page, Rarity and habitat. Scarce. The seen, but the female is more furtive. second right). Forewing length: 14 mm caterpillar feeds on elm, but the Some females are dark brown, some (0.5 in). adult can be found in woodlands or have blue mixed with the brown and hedgerows, often some distance from others are almost totally blue. Females, Rarity and habitat. Scarce. Found any elms. unlike males, always have orange spots mainly in scrubby habitat, especially along the margin of the upperside hind around gorse. Interestingly, this species Similar species. The Purple Hairstreak and forewings. Both sexes have orange Orange-tip has a particularly late fl ight period on can look similar and is common on the spots along the margin of the underside (Anthocharis cardamines) the Malvern Hills. Malverns. It is usually seen high up hindwing. (Picture on page 1, bottom). The male is easy to identify with a in oak trees, seldom comes near the Forewing length: 14 mm (0.5 in). bright orange tip to the wings. Females Similar species. It is diffi cult to confuse ground. Both sexes have some purple have a black/grey tip. Both sexes have this butterfl y with any other species. on the upperside. The underside is Rarity and habitat. Common. Found in a beautiful mottled-greenish pattern on light grey and unlike the White-letter many grassland habitats. the underside of the hindwing, showing Hairstreak it has an orange eyespot on clearly when the wings are closed. the hindwing near the “tail”. Also, the Similar species. Butterfl ies of the “blue” 17 18 family can be diffi cult. Similar species on the underside wing margin and does These four colourful butterfl ies are here each year. Any records for this found on the Malvern Hills are: 1. Holly not often fl y above head height. regularly found in gardens. Looking at species are of great importance. It is a Blue, this species does not have orange the upperside patterns the differences large, fast-fl ying butterfl y with orange Red Admiral spots on the underside and usually fl ies between the species are clear. and brown markings on the upperside. (Vanessa atalanta high (at head height or above) around The Red Admiral is recognised by its The underside hindwing has large trees or scrub (see below), whereas red bands against a dark background. silver spots on a mainly reddish-orange the Common Blue tends to fl y closer Forewing length: 30 mm (1.2 in). background and a characteristic band of to the ground. 2. Brown Argus can The Small Tortoiseshell has yellow small silver spots, each within reddish be confused with female Common and dark squares along its wing edge, a halos. The High Brown Fritillary is Blue and distinguishing the two needs reddish background and blue “beading” protected by law and it is illegal to experience. However, Brown Argus catch, handle or disturb this butterfl y along the wing margins. Forewing is only occasionally recorded on the without a licence from the appropriate Small Tortoiseshell length: 24 mm (0.9 in). Malverns. (Aglais urticae) Government Agency. (Picture on page The Peacock has a large eye-spot 1, top). Forewing length: 30 mm (1.2 pattern on each of its wings. Forewing Holly Blue in). (Celastrina argiolus length: 30 mm (1.2 in). The Comma has an orange and brown Rarity and habitat. Scarce. Found on pattern with jagged wing edges. bracken-covered hillside and also in Forewing length: 27 mm (1.1 in). sheltered clearings and damp grassland where it feeds on nectar sources such Peacock Rarity and habitat. Common. Found in (Inachis io) as thistles. many habitats. Similar species. 1. The Dark Green Similar species. Fritillary butterfl ies in Fritillary is very similar but is rarely This butterfl y tends to fl y high around fl ight can be mistaken for the Comma seen on the Malvern Hills. Its underside trees and shrub. Both sexes are blue but fritillaries are rare on the Malvern pattern is greenish with silver patches, and the females have black tips on the Hills. Anyway, the Comma is a deeper lacking the red colouring or red-haloed upperside forewing. They seldom sit with wings open and the underside is orange colour and once it lands the silver spots. 2. The Silver-washed very light blue with small black spots. Comma jagged wing edge is apparent. Fritillary is a larger butterfl y and the Forewing length: 16 mm (0.6 in). (Polygonia c-album) underside hindwing has silver streaks High Brown Fritillary on a greenish background (see below). Rarity and habitat. Common. Found (Argynnis adippe) 3. In fl ight, the Comma can look in woodland, scrub and hedgerow similar, but it is a deeper orange colour habitat. The Malvern Hills is one of the few sites and once it lands, the jagged wing edge in England where this butterfl y can be is apparent. Similar species. The Common Blue can look similar, but it has orange spots seen and only a handful are recorded 19 20 Silver-washed Fritillary Speckled Wood Similar species. It is diffi cult to confuse has one, not two eyespots on the (Argynnis paphia) (Pararge aegeria) this butterfl y with any other species. forewing.

Grayling Small Heath (Hipparchia semele) (Coenonympha pamphilus

A large fast-fl ying butterfl y, often A dark-brown butterfl y with pale gliding when in fl ight. Its upperside patches and eye-spots on the upperside orange and brown markings differ fore and hindwings. The males often sit with wings open in patches of sunlight slightly between the sexes. The A well camoufl aged dark-brown fi ltering through woodland. Forewing A small neat looking butterfl y which underside hindwing has silver streaks butterfl y with streaky pale patches length: 21 mm (0.8 in). often rests with its wings closed. The on a greenish background and green and eye-spots on the upperside fore spots near the wing margin. Forewing upperside is a fairly uniform light- Rarity and habitat. Common. Often and hindwings. It nearly always rests length: 33 mm (1.3 in). orange colour with a small eyespot. found in shady habitats such as with wings closed and will drop the It is well camoufl aged when at rest. woodland glades and hedgerows. forewing beneath the hindwing so that Rarity and habitat. Scarce. Found in Forewing length: 17 mm (0.7 in). its eyespots are hidden. In this position woodland and wood edges particularly Similar species. 1. The Grayling is superfi cially similar, but has a streaky it can blend in beautifully with the on the southern hills, it will fl y into Rarity and habitat. Common, but has appearance, not distinct pale patches, background. Forewing length: 26 mm open habitat to fi nd nectar. declined recently. Usually found on on the upperside. It also has two, not (1.0 in). one, eyespots on the forewing. short grassland, often around hill tops. Similar species. 1. High Brown Fritillary and 2. Dark Green Fritillary Rarity and habitat. Fairly common. Marbled White Similar species. It is not usually can sometimes be confused with this Occurs in small numbers on hill tops (Melanargia galathea) confused with any other species that species. However, both lack silver and in quarries where there is short may be found on the Malvern Hills. streaks on the underside hindwing. 3. A smart-looking black and white grass and bare ground. In fl ight, the Comma can look similar species. (Picture on front page, far right). but it is smaller, a deeper orange colour Forewing length: 25 mm (1.0 in). Similar species. The Speckled Wood Rarity and habitat. Common in some and once it lands, the jagged wing edge is superfi cially similar, but has distinct is apparent. parts of the Malverns. Mainly found in grassland habitat. pale patches on the upperside. It also 21 22 Ringlet upperside of fore and hindwings, but the Six-spot Burnet usually rests with wings open. It has (Aphantopus hyperantus) orange area is usually small and faded (Zygaena fi lipendulae) un-patterned light brown to mid-brown on the hindwing. Males are much darker wings. Forewing length: 10 mm (0.4 with little or no orange on the upperside. An almost metallic-looking moth with in). Forewing length: 25 mm (1.0 in). red hindwings. The forewing has six red spots on a greenish-black background, Rarity and habitat. Scarce. Found in The Ringlet is uniform dark brown but the two “spots” near to the head woodland clearings and along wood with a series of eyespots “ringlets” on tend to merge into one patch. (Picture edge. upper and underside. Forewing length: on page 1, second bottom). Forewing 23 mm (0.9 in). length: 17 mm (0.7 in). Similar species. There are no other There is a very similar species on the day-fl ying moths that have such plain Gatekeeper Malverns which has only fi ve red spots: wings. Rarity and habitat. Common. Found in (Pyronia tithonus) the Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet many habitats, especially grasslands. Meadow Brown (Zygaena lonicerae). Hummingbird Hawkmoth The Ringlet particularly likes shady (Maniola jurtina) (Macroglossum stellatarum) woodland edge or woodland rides. Their Rarity and habitat. Common. Found in fl ight periods and habitats overlap, so many grassland habitats. they may be found together. Similar species. The Cinnabar moth is Similar species. 1. Gatekeeper and also black and red, with red hindwings. Meadow Brown females can seem It has only two red spots and two red similar, but in Gatekeepers the orange streaks on each forewing and has patch on the upperside forewing is Three medium sized “brown” butterfl ies thread-like antennae not the thick sharply defi ned and reaches the edge which can look similar. hooked antennae of the Burnets. At rest this moth is unlikely to attract of the wing alongside the body. In attention, but in fl ight its orange– Meadow Brown, the orange patch has Drab Looper brown markings show clearly. It is The Gatekeeper is the smallest, with an indistinct edge and does not reach (Minoa murinata) especially noticeable when hovering, large orange patches surrounded by to the body. In general, Gatekeeper with the proboscis deep inside a fl ower. brown on the upperside of fore and has a much neater, sharper appearance. This behaviour and its wide hairy hindwings. The male has a brown streak 2. Meadow Brown males and Ringlets body means it is often mistaken for a across the upperside forewing. (Picture can be confused in fl ight, but Ringlet hummingbird. The rapid wing beats can on page 1, second top). Forewing has a white fringe to the wing edges and even make the brown markings on the length: 20 mm (0.8 in). is darker than Meadow Brown. Usually forewing look like feathers. Forewing the many eyespots of Ringlet and the length: 22 mm (0.8 in). The Meadow Brown female has orange single upperside eyespot of Meadow patches surrounded by brown on the A small, plain day-fl ying moth which Rarity and habitat. Scarce. Most seen Brown will distinguish the two. 23 24 in Britain are probably immigrants A striking moth with red hindwings, Similar species. Some small brownish from southern Europe and north two red strips and two red dots on each butterfl ies such as the Dingy Skipper can Africa. Found in many habitats, often forewing against a black background. look similar. The Burnet Companion on Buddleia in gardens. The black and orange ringed caterpillars has thread-like antennae rather then of this moth are often seen feeding on the club antennae of butterfl ies. Also, Similar species. No similar species are Ragwort (picture on page 5). Forewing butterfl ies commonly rest on top of likely to be seen on the Malvern Hills. length: 20 mm (0.8 in). vegetation, rather than diving into the base as is typical of this moth. Scarlet Tiger Rarity and habitat. The adult moth is (Callimorpha dominula) fairly common, but the caterpillars are more regularly seen. Found in many Photographic Credits A brightly coloured black, orange and habitats. Drab Looper (David Green) red moth. It often rests with its red and Hummingbird Hawkmoth (David black hindwing fully hidden. (Picture Similar species. The Burnet moths are Green) on front page, second left). Forewing also black and red, with red hindwings Grayling (Richard Newton) length: 25 mm (1.0 in). but they have more than two red spots Purple Hairstreak (Alan Barnes) on each forewing and have thick Cinnabar (David Green) Rarity and habitat. Scarce. Records of hooked antennae not the thread-like Burnet Companion (Richard this species are particularly valuable. antennae of the Cinnabar. Newton) Found in many habitats, especially Small Heath (David Green) damp grasslands. Burnet Companion White-letter Hairstreak (Alan (Euclidia glyphica) Barnes) Similar species. There are other Tiger Meadow Brown (Susan Clarke) moths that can look slightly similar, Peacock (Richard Newton) but the orange “smug” across the Comma (Richard Newton) white patches near to the head is Holly Blue (David Green) characteristic. Red Admiral (Alan Barnes) Silver-washed Fritillary (Alan Cinnabar moth Barnes) (Tyria jacobaeae) Speckled Wood (Richard Newton) A small brown patterned moth with Ringlet (David Green) yellow on the hindwings. It can Orange-tip (Alan Barnes) be seen making short rapid fl ights Small Tortoiseshell (David Green) over grassland, then diving into the vegetation. Forewing length: 14 mm (0.5 in). Rarity and habitat. Scarce, only found at a few sites. Uses grassland habitat. 25 26 Important information

For information on the law applying to Lepidoptera, also for policy regarding netting, collecting, breeding and photography contact Butterfl y Conservation or English Nature.

Useful addresses and web sites

Butterfl y Conservation Manor Yard East Lulworth Wareham Dorset BH20 5QP. Tel: 01929 400209 www.butterfl y-conservation.org. Contact details for local branches available on the web site.

Malvern Hills AONB Offi ce Malvern Hills Conservators Manor House, Manor House Grange Road, Grange Road Malvern, Malvern Worcestershire Worcestershire WR14 3EY WR14 3EY www.malvernhillsaonb.org.uk www.malvernhills.org.uk