Britain's Butterflies: A Field Guide to the Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland, 4th Edition

257 Pages·4·354.876 MB·English

by  David Newland, Andy Swash, Robert Still, David Tomlinson

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Published by Princeton University Press,
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First published 2002 by WILDGuides Ltd.
Second Edition 2010 by WILDGuides Ltd.
Third Edition 2015 by Princeton University Press
Fourth Edition 2020 by Princeton University Press
Copyright © 2002, 2010, 2015, 2020 by David Newland, Robert Still, Andy Swash and
David Tomlinson. Digital artwork, maps and illustrations copyright © 2020 by Robert Still
Copyright in the photographs remains with the individual photographers.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a
retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.
British Library Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available
Library of Congress Control Number 2020941057
ISBN 978-0-691-20544-1
Ebook ISBN 978-0-691-21178-7
Production and design by WILDGuides Ltd., Old Basing, Hampshire UK.
Printed in Italy
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Contents
Foreword . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Preface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
How butterflies and moths differ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Butterfly biology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Where to look for butterflies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Gardening for butterflies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Butterfly habitats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 . . 4 . . . . . .
Favoured habitats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Key places for rare and localized butterflies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Butterfly identification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
The types of butterfly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Colour variation: forms and aberrations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
THE SPECIES ACCOUNTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Former breeding species, rare migrants and vagrants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Species of doubtful provenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Caterpillar foodplants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Butterfly nectar sources and caterpillar foodplants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Eggs, caterpillars and chrysalises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .218
Eggs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Caterpillars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Chrysalises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
List of British and Irish butterflies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .237
Butterfly watching and photography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Butterfly Conservation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Recording and monitoring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Climate change and butterflies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Conservation status and legislation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Further reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 . . 5 . . 0 . . . .
Sources of further information and useful addresses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Acknowledgements and photographic/artwork credits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Index of English and scientific names . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
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A male Silver-studded Blue on bell
hSielavethr-esrt autd Kdeeldlin Bglu Heeath, Norfolk.
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Foreword
by Julie Williams
Chief Executive of
Butterfl y Conservation
Butterfl ies are a beautiful and intrinsic part of our
wildlife heritage . No summer’s day is complete
without the delightful fl ash of colour and fl utter
of wings on a gentle breeze . But butterfl ies are so
much more than that – they are highly sensitive
indicators of the health of the environment and
play a crucial role in the food chain as well as being
important pollinators of plants .
In recent years, scientists have documented alarming declines in the number and
geographic range of insects around the world . Some studies have reported such rapid
declines that it has been referred to as an “Insect Apocalypse” and, sadly, butterfl ies are
among the worst hit . Even widespread species such as the Small Tortoiseshell, a once
common sight across the UK, have declined by 78% since the 1970s . The recent results
of our Big Butterfl y Count suggests that the impact of climate change is actually greater
than was previously thought .
The loss of nature aff ects us all, but the greatest impact will be felt by young people
and future generations . We need to inspire more people to care about butterfl ies – and
that is exactly what the revised edition of this fantastic book does . It includes the latest
information on all the British and Irish species, tips on where to fi nd them, and beautiful
photographs to help identify butterfl ies at all stages of their life-cycle . This is an ideal
book for beginners, but its exceptional quality makes it an essential reference for experts
too . This is one of my favourite butterfl y guides: I love the bright and clear design and
absolutely stunning photography showing all aspects of each butterfl y in great detail .
Once you appreciate the joy and wonder of our beautiful butterfl ies you will be
hooked, just like Butterfl y Conservation’s 40,000 members and thousands of dedicated
volunteers . There are lots of ways to get involved if you are not already; why not take
part in our Big Butterfl y Count during July and August? It is the largest survey of its
kind and provides vital data to help our scientists understand the drivers of change and
declines . Evidence shows that experiencing nature and being outdoors is great for our
health and wellbeing so it will benefi t you too . Do visit www.butterfl y-conservation.
org to fi nd out more .
I have no doubt you will enjoy this book and revisit it time and time again to recap on
all the fantastic information included . I hope it will inspire you to get out and enjoy our
precious butterfl ies and the natural world in which they live .
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Clouded Yellow
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Preface
The first edition of this book was in preparation some 20 years ago but our aim remains
the same: to use the best available photographs to illustrate British and Irish butterflies
in all their life stages and, from the 3rd edition, caterpillar foodplants for each of the
species . Successive editions have provided the opportunity to improve the design and
presentation, introduce new photographs, and ensure that the content is up-to-date .
There has been one addition and one significant change to the species covered in
the book since the first edition was published in 2002 . The addition is the appearance
in England, in 2014, of Scarce Tortoiseshells, only seen previously once in 1953, requiring
the inclusion of an extra species account . The change is that the butterfly formerly
known as Réal’s Wood White is now known to comprise two species, one of which
is restricted to Ireland and given the name Cryptic Wood White; this is reflected in
necessary changes to the nomenclature .
We have also had to respond to another development . Taxonomists classify living
creatures according to the perceived complexity of their anatomy and, since 1945,
have listed butterfly species by number, the order running from the more primitive, in
some sense, to the more developed . At the time of the first edition, the definitive list
was by Bradley & Fletcher (1979, revised 1986, 1998, 2000) and the species accounts in
the book and subsequent editions were therefore arranged in that order . Now a new
checklist has gained acceptance, Agassiz et al . (2013), and we have decided to re-order
the species accordingly . Some of the scientific names of butterflies and moths have also
been revised, with the curious result that sometimes the common (vernacular) names by
which we know species are more stable than the scientific names that accompany them .
The only obvious change is that the ‘browns’ are listed before the ‘blues’, rather than the
reverse in previous editions . On closer study, it will be seen that the rest of the pack has
been shuffled too; hopefully this new order will be followed for the foreseeable future .
Other improvements for this edition include new introductory sections to the main
‘types’ of butterflies, which are intended to help in the identification of unfamiliar
species, updated maps, additional background on recording and monitoring, a new
section on the effects of climate change, and an updated section on conservation status
and legislation .
In spite of the uncertain provenance of some butterfly records, unusual or changing
weather patterns may result in unexpected sightings when genuine vagrants are
seen . As before, we have tried to anticipate possible future changes by including the
Map, which is common in continental Europe, and Geranium Bronze, together with full
accounts of 14 other species that formerly bred here or are recognized as occasional
migrants . Yet another potential arrival, Southern Small White, is also referred to briefly .
We are pleased that the section on foodplants, which was introduced in the third
edition, has received positive feedback, as knowledge of how to identify these plants is
invaluable when deciding where to look, and essential if you want to find rare species .
David Newland, Robert Still and Andy Swash
May 2020
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Introduction
On a sunny summer’s day in the countryside, butterfl ies are all around us . Perhaps not
as many as in the past, but there are still 59 diff erent species to see in Great Britain and
Ireland, plus a dozen more that visit very occasionally from continental Europe or farther
afi eld .
This book aims to help you recognize a butterfl y when you see it and to get to know
all the British and Irish species . It is so much more fun to know what you are looking at
when you see a butterfl y – and to have some idea as to whether it is common or rare,
whether it travels widely or is very local, and what it is doing .
By making butterfl y identifi cation as simple as possible, we hope to encourage more
people to take an interest in and enjoy them . Enjoyment is the key, since the more
people that take an interest in butterfl ies, the more we will learn and the greater the
likelihood that action can be taken to safeguard them for future generations .
The photographs in this book show all our British butterfl ies in their natural
surroundings . Where males and females look diff erent, both are shown, and for those
species that breed in Britain and Ireland there are also photographs of their egg,
caterpillar and chrysalis .
Digital computer imagery has been used to combine some of the best butterfl y
photographs available so that the diff erences between species can readily be seen .
The text is written in an easy-to-use style and the information given and distribution
maps shown are accurate and up-to-date .
A Ringlet basks in late July sunshine.
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INTRODUCTION
Few creatures are more sensitive indicators of the health The ‘eye’ of a Peacock.
of the environment than butterfl ies, and the continuing
decline of so many species is a serious warning of the
diminishing diversity of our countryside . Conserving
butterfl ies is more than a case of simply protecting
individual species, or providing isolated reserves . Instead,
we have to consider the whole environment, and how best
to care for it and manage it .
Conservation depends upon popular support – the more
people that become interested in looking after our plants
and animals, the easier it is to argue for the protection of
our countryside and its wildlife . For this reason, we are
delighted to have produced this book in association with Butterfl y Conservation, the
charity dedicated to saving butterfl ies, moths and their habitats in the UK and beyond .
We hope that the book will inspire many more people to appreciate, understand
and enjoy this beautiful and fascinating group of insects . And we hope also that you
will enjoy the book not only for the information it contains but also for the beauty of
the images in it . These images illustrate what you will see if you look carefully in the
fi eld . And that is where nature has so much to off er . These beautiful creatures are there
for all of us to wonder at and enjoy, if only we will take the time to look .
A male Orange-tip nectars on
Dame’s Violet in late May.
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