HOMEBUTTERFLIESPLACESENVIRONMENTLAWPHOTO LIBRARYBLOGGBUTTERFLY BOOKSLINKSABOUTCONTACT In Britain, the Hesperiidae family consists of eight (8) native species and one extinct species (Large Chequered Skipper). Known commonly as "skippers" because of their rapid flight, these moth-like butterflies can be split in to two sub-families, the Pyrginae and the Hesperiinae. The Pyrginae tend to be a dull grey-brown colour with highly detailed wing patterns. They tend to hold their wings wide open when basking or folded forward, hugging a plant stem when roosting. They tend to be less widespread and often occur in discreet colonies. The Hesperiinae on the other hand tend to be golden brown in colour and hold their wings in a distinctive fashion. They are triangular in shape when viewed from above. Chequered Skipper Carterocephalus palaemon Dingy Skipper Erynnis tages Essex Skipper Thymelicus lineola Grizzled Skipper Pyrgus malvae Large Chequered Skipper Heteropterus morpheus Large Skipper Ochlodes venata Lulworth Skipper Thymelicus acteon Silver-spotted Skipper Hesperia comma Small Skipper Thymelicus sylvestris The Lycaenidae family is a group of small butterflies more commonly known as 'blues', 'coppers', 'hairstreaks' and 'metalmarks'. They are some of our most beautiful and most overlooked butterflies despite their often jewel like appearance. The group consists of eighteen (18) native species of which three, the British sub-species of the Mazarine Blue, Large Blue and Large Copper are extinct. The Large Blue has been successfully re-introduced using a sub-species from mainland Europe while similar re-introduction attempts with the Large Copper have so far failed. The Long-tailed Blue and Short-tailed Blue are very rare migrants to British shores while the occurrence of Geranium Bronze is due to accidental imports on pelargonium plants sold in garden centres. It should be noted that the females of most of the 'blues' from this family are actually Brown in colour. Tthe males tend to be blue in most instances although there are exceptions to this rule. Adonis Blue Polyommatus bellargus Black Hairstreak Satyrium pruni Brown Argus Aricia agestis Brown Hairstreak Thecla betulae Chalkhill Blue Polyommatus coridon Common Blue Polyommatus icarus Duke of Burgundy Hamearis lucina Geranium Bronze Cacyreus marshalli Green Hairstreak Callophrys rubi Holly Blue Celastrina argiolus Large Blue Glaucopsyche arion Large Copper British Race Lycaena dispar Long-tailed Blue Lampides boeticus Mazarine Blue Polyommatus semiargus Northern Brown Argus Aricia artaxerxes Purple Hairstreak Neozephyrus quercus Short-tailed Blue Cupido argiades Silver-studded Blue Plebeius argus Small Blue Cupido minimus Small Copper Lycaena phlaeas White-letter Hairstreak Satyrium w-album The Nymphalidae family contains species more commonly known as "nymphalids", "fritillaries" or "browns". Thirty One (31) species have been recorded in Britain, of which one (1), the Large Tortoiseshell is thought to be extinct, and four (4) are rare migrants (Camberwell Beauty, Map, Monarch and Queen of Spain Fritillary). Butterflies of the Nymphalidae family are often referred to as 'brush-footed butterflies' because the non-functional pair of front legs are reduced in size and covered with hair-like scales. These forelegs are often tucked under the body of the butterfly. The caterpillars tend to be covered in spines or have other protrusions such as horns on the head or tail. The pupae are angular in shape and are jewel like in appearance with shiny metallic gold or silver spots. An exception to the above rules are members of the sub-family Satyrinae (The Browns and Ringlets), whose caterpillars feed on grasses. The caterpillars also have pointed projections at the end of the body. It should be noted that the Marbled White is a member of this sub-family (its behaviour and life-cycle being very different to other 'Whites' of the Pieridae family found in Britain. Camberwell Beauty Nymphalis antiopa Comma Polygonia c-album Dark Green Fritillary Argynnis aglaja Gatekeeper Pyronia tithonus Glanville Fritillary Melitaea cinxia Grayling Hipparchia semele Heath Fritillary Melitaea athalia High Brown Fritillary Argynnis adippe Large Heath Coenonympha tullia Large Tortoiseshell Nymphalis polychloros Map Araschnia levana Marbled White Melanargia galathea Marsh Fritillary Euphydryas aurinia Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina Monarch Danaus plexippus Mountain Ringlet Erebia epiphron Painted Lady Vanessa cardui Peacock Inachis io Pearl-bordered Fritillary Boloria euphrosyne Purple Emperor Apatura iris Queen of Spain Fritillary Issoria lathonia Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus Scotch Argus Erebia aethiops Silver-washed Fritillary Argynnis paphia Small Heath Coenonympha pamphilus Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary Boloria selene Small Tortoiseshell Aglais urticae Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria Wall Brown Lasiommata megera White Admiral Limenitis camilla The Papilionidae family consists of one (1) native species. The Swallowtail, is a stunning butterfly which has evolved in to a sub-species which can only be found on the Norfolk Broads. On rare occasions the European sub-species of the Swallowtail occurs as a rare migrant around the south coast of the UK. Swallowtail British Race Papilio machaon Swallowtail European Race Papilio gorganus The Pieridae family contains species more commonly known as "whites" and yellows (or sulphurs). The pigment (yellows and oranges) which occur in some species from this family are derived fron uric acid waste products which deposit themselves on the wing scales during pupation. The pupae of all species from the Pieridae family are positioned in an upright fashion, with a single silk girdle around the middle of the pupae. Of the twelve (12) species recorded in Britain, one (1), the Black-veined White is extinct, three (3) are rare migrants (Bath White, Berger's Clouded Yellow and Pale Clouded Yellow) and one (1), the Réal's Wood White only occurs in the Republic of Ireland. Bath White Pontia daplidice Berger's Clouded Yellow Colias alfacariensis Black-veined White Aporia crataegi Brimstone Gonepteryx rhamni Clouded Yellow Colias croceus Green-veined White Pieris napi Large White Pieris brassicae Orange-tip Anthocharis cardamines Pale Clouded Yellow Colias hyale Réal's Wood White Leptidea reali Small White Pieris rapae Wood White Leptidea sinapis All text, photographs, images & other graphic elements used on this web site are copyright Steven Cheshire 2000 - unless otherwise stated.   Recommended Books