CRASH COURSE IN BUTTERFLY 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 Insects
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 species 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 Skipper is often overlooked.
© Liam Lysaght © Tom Cuffe Dingy Skipper – Erynnis tages
The Essex Skipper is currently only found in the south-east.
© Chris J. Wilson © Leon van der Noll Essex Skipper – Thymelicus 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 animal fodder, may be recorded Small Skipper – Thymelicus sylvestris elsewhere. http://butterflies.biodiversityireland.ie
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!