CRASH COURSE IN IDENTIFICATION

© Tomás Murray 2015 Photograph/catch and release One of the fastest ways of gaining confidence with identification. To avoid damaging the butterfly, make sure you place enough tissue paper in the container to ensure the butterfly crawls, rather than flies, within. For help with identification:

1. Email your butterfly photo to: [email protected]

2. Post a photo to our Facebook page: Monitoring Ireland’s

3. Buy an identification swatch: http://www.biodiversityireland.ie/home-page/shop/

4. There’s a smart phone app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.bi odiversityireland.butterfly Andrew Fenner has developed a freely available Android smart phone app – download from Google Play Once you know what you’ve seen, not matter how common or rare…..

Don’t forget to submit the record! http://records.biodiversityireland.ie/ Bits of a butterfly

Head Antenna

Eyespot Forewing Thorax

Abdomen

Hindwing

© Rodney Daunt Bits of a butterfly

Forewing

Hindwing

Outer margin

© Fionn Moore Skippers

Very moth-like, small and fast flyers the Dingy is often overlooked.

© Liam Lysaght © Tom Cuffe Dingy Skipper – Erynnis tages

The is currently only found in the south-east.

© Chris J. Wilson © Leon van der Noll Essex Skipper – lineola Skippers

© Liam Lysaght Dingy Skipper – Erynnis tages

© Chris J. Wilson Essex Skipper – Thymelicus lineola Skippers

The Essex Skipper is currently only found © Chris J. Wilson in the south-east. Essex Skipper – Thymelicus lineola

One known colony in Kildare but in times of increased

© James Lindsey importation of fodder, may be recorded – Thymelicus sylvestris elsewhere. http://butterflies.biodiversityireland.ie

[email protected]

Don’t forget to submit your records! http://records.biodiversityireland.ie/

Thank you to all the recorders who kindly allowed us to use their photographs for this guide!