Unless you have been hiding under a log this month you will know that Butterfly Conservation’s Big Butterfly Count has well and truly begun. It has become the world’s largest butterfly survey, with more than 36,000 people recording nearly 400,000 individual butterflies and moths last year! This year nature-lovers have spent the past two weeks scouring the UK for butterflies – and with the count ending on Sunday 6th August there is still a week left to take part. So to get you thoroughly inspired here’s a little selection of some of our winged beauties…
Common species
No matter the species, a familiar glimpse of fluttering colour is likely to brighten anyone’s day. And though Britain is home to 59 species of butterfly, there are some you are far more likely to see than others. Here’s a few you may come across in your garden or on a countryside walk:
Peacock
Peacock butterflies have incredibly useful wing markings - the eye spots on their upper side can be flashed to startle predators, and the underside provides camouflage.
Red Admiral
Though there is a small resident population in the UK, the majority of Red Admirals migrate over each year from central Europe in May and June.
Brimstone
With males being distinctively bright yellow, it is thought that butterflies were named after this species’ buttery colour.
Rare species
There are other UK butterfly species that you would be far more fortunate to see. Some species have been limited to just a handful of sites due to the requirements of specific geology, food plants and geographical features. These three species are examples of our rarer gems:
Large Blue
The rarity of this species is linked to its remarkably unusual life cycle. Its parasitic larva is taken in by red ant colonies, where it feeds on the ant grubs and pupates, before emerging as an adult.
Duke of Burgundy
With only a month as an adult and 6 weeks as a larva, this species spends almost 10 moths of the year in its dormant pupal stage.
Chequered skipper
This butterfly is so named because the characteristic yellow spots on its wings make them look as if they are chequered – distinguishing them from other skipper species.
Beautiful species
But let’s be honest; aside from rarity butterflies are simply stunning. Their wings get their gorgeous colouration and iridescence from their tiny wing scales, which contain pigments and/or structures that reflect and absorb certain wavelengths. If you need any more convincing of their beauty, here’s some favourites:
Swallowtail
As well as being distinctively striking, the Swallowtail is the largest native UK butterfly – and is one of our rarer species.
Purple emperor
Although it is regal in appearance this butterfly has rather undignified tastes. Instead of flowers this species is drawn to rotting carrion, faeces and moist ground, where it can obtain salts and minerals.
Adonis Blue
The brilliant sky blue of this species is only found in the males, with the females coloured quite differently in a rich chocolatey brown.