Argyll ID Guide
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Butterflies of Arg yll an id enti fication guide Green Hairstreak Butterflies are beautiful insects and a joy to observe as well as identify. This guide will help you identify all 27 species of butterfly that occur in Argyll. It also provides a table so you can easily see what species are "on the wing" at any given time. We hope this leaflet will encourage you to help record Argyll’s important butterfly populations. 1 6 11 2 7 3 8 12 4 9 13 5 10 14 6 10 15 15 19 24 16 20 25 16 21 25 17 22 17 23 26 18 24 27 Codes 5 Green-veined White 10 Common Blue 40-52mm 29-36mm UKBAP Listed in the UK The most common of the whites, A widespread butterfly found in Biodiversity Acion Plan this species feeds on wild crucifers a variety of grassy habitats from A&BLBAP Listed in the Argyll and is not a garden pest. The sea level to mountainsides, almost and Bute Local Biodiversity green veins on the underside of anywhere that its caterpillar's Action Plan the wing distinguish this from other foodplant, bird's-foot trefoil, white butterflies, but they can fade occurs. The brightly-coloured Wing spans with wear and are less distinct males are conspicuous, but m = male, f = female in second generation butterflies. females are browner, often with Flies April to June and again in little or no blue. In Scotland it SKIPPERS July and August. usually has one generation a 1 Chequered Skipper 6 Orange-tip year, the adults flying from UKBAP, A&BLBAP 40-52mm mid May towards the end m 29mm - f 31mm The caterpillars feed on wild of September. Following its extinction in England crucifers such as cuckoo flower VANESSIDS AND FRITILLARIES in 1976 the entire UK population and garlic mustard. Males are 11 Red Admiral of the Chequered Skipper now unmistakable with their bright m 64-72mm, f 70-78mm occurs on the mainland of western orange wing-tips, but females have A familiar and distinctive garden Scotland in Lochaber and north no orange so could be confused butterfly that migrates to the UK Argyll. It is associated with the with Small or Green-veined Whites. every year from southern Europe edges, or open spaces, within However, Orange-tips have more and North Africa. It can breed in damp woodland dominated by the rounded wing tips and distinctive Scotland but cannot survive our caterpillar’s main foodplant purple mottled green undersides that can winter. The major influx starts in moor-grass. In warm weather adults also be seen faintly from above late May and is re-inforced until are extremely active and have a through the upperwing. Flies from August, with adults being seen swift, darting flight. Look for them mid April till end of June and until November. The caterpillars between mid May and the end of occasionally again at end of feed on stinging nettles. June in sunny sheltered sites with July through August. 12 Painted Lady plenty of nectar plants, especially HAIRSTREAKS, m 58-70mm, f 62-74mm bugle, bluebell and marsh thistle. COPPERS AND BLUES Another migrant, this species is WHITES AND YELLOWS 7 Green Hairstreak unable to over-winter in any part of 2 Clouded Yellow 27-34mm the UK and re-colonises each year m 52-58mm, f 54-62mm Despite the bright green from mainland Europe, sometimes A migrant to the UK from the appearance of this small butterfly, in spectacular numbers (such as in Continent, this butterfly is well- which always sits with its wings 1995 and 2009). They can often known for its mass immigrations closed, it can be difficult to spot. be seen congregating in areas when they arrive in huge numbers It prefers warm, sheltered sites in with thistles, which serve as both in "Clouded Yellow years". Less open birch woodland, moorland a food plant for the caterpillars common in Scotland, but in good and edges or clearings of conifer and a nectar source for the adults. years may be seen between plantations where its caterpillar’s The peak of immigration usually June and October. main foodplant, blaeberry is found. occurs in June, and adults can be 3 Large White Flies in May and early June. seen until October or November. m 58mm, f 63mm 8 Purple Hairstreak 13 Small Tortoiseshell Our largest white butterfly and a m 33-40mm, f 31-38mm m 45-55mm, f 52-62mm strong flier. The caterpillars feed on A striking butterfly, but difficult to This well-known butterfly can be brassicas such as cabbages and see, as it feeds on honeydew in seen in any month of the year in are therefore disliked by gardeners. the canopy of oak and other trees. almost any habitat. It is familiar in Differs from the Small White by its Colonies usually favour a particular gardens and feeds on stinging larger size, darker black wing tips tree. They are best looked for in nettles as a caterpillar. It over- which extend further down the late afternoon or early evening on winters as an adult and is one of edge of the wing, and bolder warm days when they can be seen the first butterflies to emerge in the spots. Flies May - September. by scanning the tops of oak trees spring. Adults are regularly found 4 Small White with binoculars. Occasionally they in houses, sheds and outbuildings 38-57mm fly down from the canopy to nectar seeking hibernation sites. The caterpillars feed on brassicas, on flowers. The caterpillars feed 14 Peacock but they cause less damage than only on oak. Flies from mid July m 63-68mm, f 67-75mm those of the Large White. Easily to end of August. An unmistakable butterfly and confused with the more common 9 Small Copper a regular garden visitor, feeding Green-veined White which is m 26-36mm, f 30-40mm on nettles as a caterpillar. similar in size, but the upperside This dainty butterfly is a wide- Often one of the first butterflies has dark tips to the forewings, and spread species found in a range to be seen in the spring, having it lacks the "green veins" on the of habitats. Its caterpillars feed on over-wintered as an adult. Their underside of the wing. It is often common and sheep's sorrel. On offspring can be seen from July one of the first butterflies to be the wing from May to September, to September, usually in much seen and flies all summer. but is rarely seen in large numbers. larger numbers. 15 Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary BROWNS 24 Meadow Brown UKBAP 19 Speckled Wood m 40-50mm, f 42-60mm m 35-41mm, f 38-44mm m 46-52mm, f 48-56mm One of the most common This species occurs in sunny, A butterfly of shady woodlands. butterflies in the area, the damp, grassy habitats, woodland Males are often seen perched in Meadow Brown can be seen in clearings and moorlands. The sunlit spots ready to defend their many grassy habitats flying even caterpillars feed on marsh violet. territory or intercept females. in dull weather when most other It can be confused with the much The caterpillars feed on various butterflies are inactive. The rarer Pearl-bordered Fritillary or the grasses. Flies May to September. caterpillar feeds on a variety of Dark Green Fritillary (see below). 20 Wall grasses. Males tend to be much Flies from late May to late August. UKBAP darker than females, but the 16 Pearl-bordered Fritillary 45-53mm amount of orange on both is UKBAP, A&BLBAP A recent arrival to the region that variable. The spotting pattern m 38-46mm, f 43-47mm is steadily spreading northwards on the underside of the hindwing Can be distinguished from up Scotland’s west coast. is also variable. Flies from mid- the much more common Small The eye spots distinguish the June to mid September. Pearl-bordered Fritillary by close Wall, or Wall Brown, from the 25 Ringlet observation of the underside of the similarly coloured Fritillaries. m 42-48mm, f 46-52mm hind wing: It has a smaller central Adults most often encountered The Ringlet has a very dark, spot, two (not seven) white central basking on bare ground in sunny, velvety appearance when newly cells and all cells have a much sheltered locations and are on emerged. Males tend to be paler border compared to the the wing in May and June, with smaller and darker than females black border of the Small Pearl- a second generation in August with hardly any markings on the bordered Fritillary. In addition, this and early September. Their upperwings. The "ringlets" on species has more specific habitat caterpillars feed on grasses. the underwings vary in number requirements, only being found 21 Mountain Ringlet and size and can be virtually in dry glades, on south-facing UKBAP absent. It favours tall grassland slopes with bracken. It flies earlier m 28-36mm, f 28-38mm on damp, heavy soils, where in the season (early May to end Our only true montane butterfly, the caterpillars feed on coarse of June) and its main food plant this species is usually found above grasses. It flies, even in dull is common dog violet. 350m, normally on south-facing conditions, from mid June to 17 Dark Green Fritillary slopes where the caterpillars feed the latter part of August. 58-68mm on mat grass. It only flies in bright 26 Small Heath This is a large butterfly that feeds sunshine, but can be disturbed UKBAP (research only) on violets as a caterpillar.