| Family Hesperiidae (The Skippers) |
| In Britain, the Hesperiidae family consists of eight (8) native species and one extinct species. Known commonly as "skippers" because of their rapid flight, these moth-like butterflies are split in to two sub-families, the Pyrginae and the Hesperiinae. |
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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.
Hesperiinae on the other hand tend to be golden brown in colour and hold their wings in a distinctive triangular 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 & Dukes) |
The Lycaenidae family is a large group of small butterflies. They are some of our most beautiful yet most overlooked butterflies.
This family is split into two subfamilies, namely the Lycaeninae and the Riodininae.
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Lycaeninae consists of eighteen (18) native species of which three British sub-species, the Mazarine Blue, Large Blue and Large Copper are extinct and lost forever. The Large Blue has been successfully re-introduced using a sub-species from Europe. Similar re-introduction attempts for 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.
Riodininae consist of only one species, the Duke of Burgundy. |
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| Family Nymphalidae (The Fritillaries, Emperors, Admirals and Browns) |
The Nymphalidae family contains thirty one (26) native species plus several migrants and extinct members. They are often referred to as the 'brush-foots' because of the non-functional pair of front legs which 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 dispite its appearance is a member of this sub-family, its behaviour and life-cycle being similar to other Browns.
The family is split into seven sub families, the Apaturinae, Heliconiinae, Melitaeinae, Limenitinae, Nymphalinae, Satyrinae and Danainae. |
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Apaturinae consists of one (1) species, The stunning Purple Emperor.
Heliconiinae consists of five (5) species plus one (1) rare migrant species. The larvae all feed on the leaves of members of the violet family.
Melitaeinae consists of three (3) species, all have limited distribution in the UK.
Limenitinae consists of one (1) species, the White Admiral.
Nymphalinae consists of four (4) species and two (2) common migrants.
Satyrinae consists of eleven (11) grassland species.
Danainae consists of one (1) species, a very rare migrant, the Monarch. |
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| Family Papilionidae (The Swallowtails) |
| 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 in the UK. The European sub-species of the Swallowtail occurs as a rare migrant around the south coast of the UK. |
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| Family Pieridae (The Whites and Yellows) |
The Pieridae family consists of seven (7) native species more commonly known as "whites" and yellows (or sulphurs). The pigment (whites, yellows and oranges) 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.
The family is split into three sub families, the Coliadinae, Pierinae, Dismorphiinae. |
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Coliadinae consists of one (1) native and one (1) common migrant species. They are primarily yellow in colour.
Pierinae consists of four (4) species which are primarily white in colour.
Dismorphiinae consists of two (2) species known as Wood Whites. |
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