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| Family Hesperiidae - The Skippers |
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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. The males tend to have an obvious sex brand (androconica) on the upper forewing making them easily distinguishable from the females of the same species. |
| Family Lycaenidae - The Blues, Coppers, Hairstreaks and Dukes |
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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. The males tend to be blue in most instances although there are exceptions to this rule.
Above: Adonis Blue - male left, female right |
| Family Nymphalidae - The Fritillaries, Emperors, Admirals and Browns |
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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.
Above: Silver-washed Fritillary - female left, male right
Above: Comma - male and females are very similar |
| Family Papilionidae - The Swallowtails |
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The Papilionidae family consists of one (1) native species. The Swallowtail, is a stunning butterfly which has evolved in to a sub-species due to its isolation and 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. The Scarce Swallowtail, as its name suggests is even rarer on British shores. |
| Family Pieridae - The Whites and Yellows |
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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 from 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. |
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