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  • Turbot - Psetta maxima. Juvenile fish undergoing torsion and still swimming and orientated  in a conventional fish manner. Top image = left side, bottom image = right side
    153704.jpg
  • Plaice Pleuronectes platessa Length to 50cm<br />
A typical flatfish. Adult lives with right side, and eyes, facing uppermost. Outline is oval-rhomboid with a pointed head and slender tail. Marbled patterning on upper surface is a good match for sand; note the dark-centred red spots. Widespread and locally common.
    139541.jpg
  • Turbot - Psetta maxima Length to 70cm. Massive flatfish, only juveniles of which are found inshore. Favours sandy substrates. Adult lives with left side, and eyes, facing uppermost. Outline is rhomboid-diamond shaped with a pointed head and long tail. Upper surface is typical mottled grey with pale and black spots. Locally common in S and SW.
    156902.jpg
  • Plaice - Pleuronectes platessa Length to 50cm. A typical flatfish. Adult lives with right side, and eyes, facing uppermost. Outline is oval-rhomboid with a pointed head and slender tail. Marbled patterning on upper surface is a good match for sand; note the dark-centred red spots. Widespread and locally common.
    156903.jpg
  • Plaice - Pleuronectes platessa Length to 50cm. A typical flatfish. Adult lives with right side, and eyes, facing uppermost. Outline is oval-rhomboid with a pointed head and slender tail. Marbled patterning on upper surface is a good match for sand; note the dark-centred red spots. Widespread and locally common.
    156934.jpg
  • Walker on the Thames Path in Oxfordshire, Uk
    156254.jpg
  • Close up heather and bracken at base of tree on forest floor in caledonian pine forest at Loch an Eilein, Cairngorms National Park, Scottish Highlands, Uk
    145503.jpg
  • Large sitka spruce in Glen Affric, Scottish Highlands, Uk. Sitka Spruce Picea sitchensis (Pinaceae) HEIGHT to 52m. Large conical evergreen tapering to a spire-like crown. Trunk is stout and buttressed in large specimens. BARK Greyish-brown, becoming purplish and scaly in older specimens. BRANCHES Ascending with slightly pendent, hairless side-shoots. LEAVES Needles, to 3cm long, stiff and flattened with a distinct keel, bright green above with 2 pale-blue bands below; appear crowded on upper surface of shoot, with lower surface more exposed. General impression is of tough, sharply spined, blue-green foliage on a sturdy tree. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Female cones are yellowish and small at first, growing to about 9cm, becoming cylin¬drical and shiny pale brown, covered with papery toothed scales. STATUS AND DISTRIBTION Native of high-rainfall areas on W coast of North America. The largest spruce species and some specimens, guarded in National Parks, have reached heights of 80m. Introduced to our region and widely planted for commercial forestry and sometimes for ornament.
    145561.jpg
  • Thornback Ray Raja clavata Length to 90cm<br />
The most familiar inshore ray. Adult has a flat, roughly diamond-shaped body with a short snout. Dorsal surface of the long tail has thorny spines with swollen bases; these continue in a line along the dorsal surface of the body. Upper body surface is grey-brown with dark stripes or pale and dark spots; lower surface is pale. Tail looks banded. Lays eggs, protected in a tough case.
    142970.jpg
  • Sand Sole Pegusa lascaris Length to 40cm Similar to Sole, living with right side, and eyes, facing uppermost. Upper pectoral fin has dark centre (dark-tipped in Sole).  Favours coasts with sandy substrates. Found in south and west Britain.
    142950.jpg
  • Lesser Spotted Catshark Scyliorhinus canicula Length to 75cm<br />
Juvenile at night – note round, open pupil in eye.<br />
Familiar inshore fish, better known as a Dogfish. Found in inshore waters, on mixed substrates. Adult is slender and buffish-yellow above with darker spots. Skin is rough, with a texture like sandpaper. The eye has slit-like pupil in bright light. It lays eggs, protected in a tough case, a so called ‘Mermaid’s Purse’. Widespread and locally common, except along E coast.
    142949.jpg
  • Lesser Spotted Catshark Scyliorhinus canicula Length to 75cm<br />
Juvenile in bright light – note slit-like pupil in eye.<br />
Familiar inshore fish, better known as a Dogfish. Found in inshore waters, on mixed substrates. Adult is slender and buffish-yellow above with darker spots. Skin is rough, with a texture like sandpaper. The eye has slit-like pupil in bright light. It lays eggs, protected in a tough case, a so called ‘Mermaid’s Purse’. Widespread and locally common, except along E coast.
    142948.jpg
  • Angler Lophius piscatorius Length to 200cm<br />
Large, flattened and unmistakable fish. Favours sandy substrates; sometimes seen in shallows, but also in deeper water. Adult has a proportionately large head and tapering tail end. Lies in wait for prey, attracted by slender fishing ‘lure’; these are engulfed by huge mouth, armed with sharp teeth. Marbled brown and buff colours provide good camouflage on seabed. Widespread and fairly common only in W and SW.
    142945.jpg
  • Common Stingray Dasyatis pastinaca Length to 120cm<br />
Fairly distinctive ray, renowned for ability to inflict painful wound. Favours estuary mouths and shores with muddy sand. Adult has shield-shaped body outline with a long, tapering tail, armed dorsally with a single ‘stinging’ spine. Upper surface of body is uniformly yellowish-grey. Gives birth to live young. Generally scarce, mainly in S.
    142571.jpg
  • Plaice Pleuronectes platessa Length to 50cm<br />
A typical flatfish. Adult lives with right side, and eyes, facing uppermost. Outline is oval-rhomboid with a pointed head and slender tail. Marbled patterning on upper surface is a good match for sand; note the dark-centred red spots. Widespread and locally common.
    141601.jpg
  • Angler Lophius piscatorius Length to 200cm<br />
Large, flattened and unmistakable fish. Favours sandy substrates; sometimes seen in shallows, but also in deeper water. Adult has a proportionately large head and tapering tail end. Lies in wait for prey, attracted by slender fishing ‘lure’; these are engulfed by huge mouth, armed with sharp teeth. Marbled brown and buff colours provide good camouflage on seabed. Widespread and fairly common only in W and SW.
    141565.jpg
  • Flounder Platichthys flesus Length to 50cm<br />
One of our most widespread and familiar flatfish. Found on sandy substrates, and young animals often occur inshore. Adult lives with right side, and eyes, facing uppermost. Outline is elongate-oval, and head, tail and tail stock are proportionately large. Mottled patterning resembles sand and gravel. Widespread and locally common.
    141549.jpg
  • Turbot Psetta maxima Length to 70cm<br />
Massive flatfish, only juveniles of which are found inshore. Favours sandy substrates. Adult lives with left side, and eyes, facing uppermost. Outline is rhomboid-diamond shaped with a pointed head and long tail. Upper surface is typical mottled grey with pale and black spots. Locally common in S and SW.
    141538.jpg
  • Sole Solea solea Length to 50cm <br />
Distinctive flatfish whose outline recalls a shoe sole. Found on sandy substrates on coasts and in estuaries. Adult lives with right side, and eyes, facing uppermost. Mouth is not terminal, upper pectoral fin has a black spot and skin is rough and patterned to look like sand and gravel. Anal fin has 61-74 rays, dorsal fin 65-78 rays. Black spot on upper pectoral fin is ‘flashed’ as fin is erected in alarm. This looks strikingly similar to ‘warning’ issued by Lesser Weever whose fin spines are venomous.  Widespread and locally common in S half of Britain; scarce further north.
    141528.jpg
  • Angler Lophius piscatorius Length to 200cm<br />
Large, flattened and unmistakable fish. Favours sandy substrates; sometimes seen in shallows, but also in deeper water. Adult has a proportionately large head and tapering tail end. Lies in wait for prey, attracted by slender fishing ‘lure’; these are engulfed by huge mouth, armed with sharp teeth. Marbled brown and buff colours provide good camouflage on seabed. Widespread and fairly common only in W and SW.
    141500.jpg
  • Brill Scophthalmus rhombus Length to 55cm<br />
Beautifully patterned flatfish. Superbly camouflaged against the sandy substrates that if favours. Adult lives with left side, and eyes, facing uppermost. Outline is broadly oval, anal and dorsal fins are broadest towards tail, and anterior rays of dorsal fin are separated into filaments. Locally common only in S and SW, north to Irish Sea.
    141498.jpg
  • Brill Scophthalmus rhombus Length to 55cm<br />
Beautifully patterned flatfish. Superbly camouflaged against the sandy substrates that if favours. Adult lives with left side, and eyes, facing uppermost. Outline is broadly oval, anal and dorsal fins are broadest towards tail, and anterior rays of dorsal fin are separated into filaments. Locally common only in S and SW, north to Irish Sea.
    141481.jpg
  • Plaice Pleuronectes platessa Length to 50cm<br />
A typical flatfish. Adult lives with right side, and eyes, facing uppermost. Outline is oval-rhomboid with a pointed head and slender tail. Marbled patterning on upper surface is a good match for sand; note the dark-centred red spots. Widespread and locally common.
    139550.jpg
  • Plaice Pleuronectes platessa Length to 50cm<br />
A typical flatfish. Adult lives with right side, and eyes, facing uppermost. Outline is oval-rhomboid with a pointed head and slender tail. Marbled patterning on upper surface is a good match for sand; note the dark-centred red spots. Widespread and locally common.
    139546.jpg
  • Box Buxus sempervirens Buxaceae Height to 6m <br />
Dense, spreading evergreen shrub. Bark Smooth, grey, breaking into squares with age. Branches Numerous; young twigs green, angular and hairy. Leaves Ovate, to 2.5cm long. Reproductive parts Flowers small, green; males have yellow anthers. Fruit is a greenish capsule, 8mm long, with 3 spreading spines. Status Local native of chalk slopes; also widely planted.
    115209.jpg
  • Mallard Anas platyrhynchos L 50-65cm. Our most familiar duck. In flight, both sexes show white-bordered blue speculum. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male has yellow bill and green, shiny head and upper neck, separated from chestnut breast by striking white collar. Underparts are grey-brown except for black stern and white tail. Back is grey-brown grading to reddish brown. Legs and feet are orange. In eclipse, male resembles adult female but note yellow bill and well-defined reddish brown breast. Adult female has orange-brown bill and mottled brown plumage. Legs and feet are dull orange-yellow. Juvenile is similar to adult female. Voice Male utters whistles and nasal calls. Female utters familiar quack. Status Widespread, commonest on lowland lakes, rivers and urban ornamental lakes.
    107487.jpg
  • Sole Solea solea Length to 50cm <br />
Distinctive flatfish whose outline recalls a shoe sole. Found on sandy substrates on coasts and in estuaries. Adult lives with right side, and eyes, facing uppermost. Mouth is not terminal, upper pectoral fin has a black spot and skin is rough and patterned to look like sand and gravel. Anal fin has 61-74 rays, dorsal fin 65-78 rays. Black spot on upper pectoral fin is ‘flashed’ as fin is erected in alarm. This looks strikingly similar to ‘warning’ issued by Lesser Weever whose fin spines are venomous.  Widespread and locally common in S half of Britain; scarce further north.
    141540.jpg
  • Topknot Zeugopterus punctatus Length to 20cm<br />
Distinctive fish. Unusually for flatfish it favours rocky coasts and is quite happy clinging onto vertical sides of rock faces. Adult lives with left side, and eyes, facing uppermost. Outline is round-oval with anal and dorsal fins almost meeting at head end, and continuous with tail. Upper surface is typically marbled reddish brown. Widespread and locally common, except on E coast.
    141527.jpg
  • Parsley Water-dropwort - Oenanthe lachenalii
    164214.jpg
  • Corky-fruited Water-dropwort - Oenanthe pimpinelloides
    164213.jpg
  • Sand Sole -  Pegusa lascaris
    161291.jpg
  • Yellow Shell - Camptogramma bilineata<br />
70.059 (1742)<br />
top row= typical forms<br />
bottom left = ssp. atlantica<br />
bottom right = ssp. hibernica
    158355.jpg
  • Silver-washed Fritillary - Argynnis paphia - male (top) - typical female (bottom left) - valezina female (bottom right). Wingspan 60mm. An iconic woodland butterfly associated with sunny rides and clearing; adults are often seen feeding on flowers of Bramble and thistles. Adult has orange-brown upperwings with black markings; underside of hindwing has silvery sheen. Flies June–August. Larva feed on violets.  Status Locally common woodland species in S and SW England and Ireland.
    157042.jpg
  • Common Field Grasshopper - Chorthippus brunneus<br />
top= male<br />
bottom left = male<br />
bottom right = female
    159190.jpg
  • Speckled Wood - Pararge aegeria - male (top row) - female (middle row) - ssp. insula from Scilly (bottom row). Wingspan 45mm. A familiar woodland and hedgerow butterfly that favours sunny glades; fond of basking. Adult has dark brown upperwings with pale markings; underwings are rufous brown with similar pattern to that seen on upperwings. Double-brooded: adults fly April–June and July–September. Larva feeds on grasses and is strictly nocturnal. Widespread but common only in southern England; local or absent further north and in Ireland.
    157269.jpg
  • Long-tailed Blue - Lampides boeticus - male (top) - female (bottom)
    156991.jpg
  • Meadow Brown - Maniola jurtina - male (top row) - female (middle & bottom rows). Wingspan 50mm. Britain’s most familiar and widespread grassland butterfly. Adult has brown upperwings; male has a small orange patch on the forewing containing eyespot; orange patch is larger in female. Underside of hindwing is brown with a grey-brown band; forewing is orange and buff with an eyespot. Flies June-Aug. Larva feeds on grasses and is nocturnal. Generally common throughout the region but least so in northern Scotland and Ireland. Favours a wide range of grassland habitats.
    157191.jpg
  • Violet helleborine - Epipactis purpurata - leaf<br />
top - upperside<br />
bottom - underside
    161201.jpg
  • Lady Orchid - Orchid purpurea (top row - Oxfordshire, bottom row - Kent)
    160838.jpg
  • Transparent Burnet - Zygaena purpuralis<br />
top = ssp. sabulosa<br />
bottom = ssp. caledonensis<br />
54.004 BF172
    158235.jpg
  • Grass Eggar - Lasiocampa trifolii<br />
66.006 BF1636<br />
Pale Grass Eggar  -bottom row
    158264.jpg
  • Grass Eggar - Lasiocampa trifolii<br />
66.006 BF1636<br />
Pale Grass Eggar  -bottom row
    158264.jpg
  • 70.144 (1860)<br />
Green Pug - Pasiphila rectangulata<br />
top = typical form<br />
bottom = melanic form
    158449.jpg
  • 70.177 (1828)<br />
Satyr Pug - Eupithecia satyrata<br />
top= ssp. satyrata<br />
middle= ssp. callunaria<br />
bottom = ssp. curzonii
    158482.jpg
  • 70.176 (1827)<br />
Freyer's Pug - Eupithecia intricata<br />
top= Freyer's Pug<br />
bottom = Edinburgh Pug
    158481.jpg
  • 70.179 (1830)<br />
Wormwood Pug - Eupithecia absinthiata<br />
bottom= ssp goossensiata = Ling Pug
    158484.jpg
  • 70.183 (1834)<br />
Common Pug - Eupithecia vulgata<br />
bottom= ssp. scotica
    158488.jpg
  • 70.185 (1836)<br />
Campanula Pug - Eupithecia denotata<br />
bottom = ssp. jasioneata = Jasione Pug
    158490.jpg
  • 70.205 (1884)<br />
The Magpie - Abraxas grossularia<br />
top row = typical adult, pupa and larva<br />
bottom  row= abberant adult forms
    158509.jpg
  • 72.046 (2047)<br />
Scarce Footman - Eilema complana<br />
bottom right = Northern Footman = form sericea
    158674.jpg
  • 73.286 (2167)<br />
Tawny Shears - Hadena perplexa<br />
bottom right= pod lover
    158979.jpg
  • Snout - Hypena proboscidalis - 72.003 (2477)<br />
left and bottom - 1st generation<br />
right - 2nd generation
    158635.jpg
  • White Admiral - Limenitis camilla - male (top row) - female (middle row) - aberration nigrina (bottom row - left female, right male). Wingspan 50mm. Glides with ease, flies swiftly and visits Bramble flowers along woodland rides. Adult has blackish upperwings with white bands; chestnut underwings have similar pattern of white to upperwings. Flies June-July. Larva is mainly green with tufts of spiny, orange hairs; feeds on Honeysuckle. Locally common in broadleaved woodland in southern England.
    157270.jpg
  • Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary - Boloria selene - male (top row) - female (bottom row). Wingspan 40mm. Similar to Pearl-bordered Fritillary and close attention to underwing markings is needed to confirm identification; typically flies later in the season than Pearl-bordered. Adult has orange brown upperwings with dark markings: on underside of hindwing note seven silver marginal spots and several silver central spots (just two in Pearl-bordered). Flies in June. Larva is black and hairy; feeds on violets. Local in woodland and grassland where violets are common, mainly in western half of Britain.
    157268.jpg
  • Small Blue - Cupido minimus - male (top row) - female (bottom row). Wingspan 25mm. Britain’s smallest butterfly; extremely active in sunshine, lethargic on overcast days. Adults have smoky-brown upperwings, those of males having a purplish iridescence; underwings of both sexes are grey with small black dots. Flies June–July. Larva is grub-like and feeds on Kidney Vetch. Very locally common in England, Wales and southern Ireland; usually associated with chalk grassland because of  larval foodplant’s requirements.
    157261.jpg
  • Silver-studded Blue - Plebejus argus - male (top row) - female (middle row) - N Wales ssp. caernensis (bottom row). Wingspan 25-30mm. An iconic heathland butterfly whose fate is inextricably linked to appropriate habitat management. Flight is buzzing and hard to follow but adults are also fond of sunbathing on Heather. Adult male has blue upperwings with a white margin and dark submarginal band; female upperwings are brown with orange submarginal spots. Underwings are grey adorned with orange and black spots, with shiny spots at the centre of orange and black spots adorning the underwings. Flies June-July. Their larvae feed on Heather and gorse species.
    157240.jpg
  • Purple Emperor - Apatura iris - male (top row) - female (bottom row). Wingspan 65mm. An impressive and iconic butterfly of broadleaved woodlands with tall oaks and mature Goat Willows (the larval foodplant). Adult has brown upperwings marked with a white band; the male has the purple sheen, only seen at certain angles. Underwings of both sexes are chestnut with a white band. Flies July-August. Larva is green with diagnostic ‘horns’ at head end. Rare and local, restricted to a few good woodlands in southern England.
    157239.jpg
  • Scotch Argus - Erebia aethiops - male (top row) - female (bottom row). Wingspan 40mm. A hardy butterfly, adapted to cool climates. Adult recalls a broad-winged Ringlet but has rich brown upperwings with an orange band marked with eyespots. Underwings are brown, hindwing with a grey band, forewing with a yellowish band marked with eyespots. Flies July–September but only active in sunshine. Larva feeds on Purple Moor-grass. Local and restricted to northern England and southern and central Scotland. Favours woodland rides and clearings, and moorland where its larval foodplant is common.
    157238.jpg
  • Ringlet - Aphantopus hyperantus - male (top row) - female (bottom row). Wingspan 48mm. A distinctively dark grassland butterfly. Adult has sooty-brown wings that are darker in males than females; both upper and lower wings are marked with eyespots but the size and number are variable. Flies June–July. Larva feeds on grasses and is strictly nocturnal. Widespread and fairly common in Britain and Ireland as far north as southern Scotland. Associated with a wide range of grassland habitats.
    157194.jpg
  • Pearl-bordered Fritillary - Boloria euphrosyne - male (top row) - female (bottom row). Wingspan 42mm. A classic woodland butterfly whose fate is linked to appropriate habitat management. Adult has orange brown upperwings with dark markings; underside of hindwing is beautifully patterned with seven silver spots on the margin and two in the middle. Flies May-June. Larva is black with a pale lateral band, and yellow, hairy spikes on dorsal surface; feeds on violets. Widespread but local in British Isles; hotspots are southern England and west Scotland.
    157193.jpg
  • Marbled White - Melanargia galathea - male (top row) - female (bottom row). Wingspan 50mm. Unmistakable meadow butterfly with a rather sluggish flight; feeds on the flowers of knapweeds and thistles. Adult has distinctive black and white patterns on upperwings; pattern is repeated on underwing although markings are subdued and there is an overall yellowish suffusion. Flies July–August. Larva feeds on grasses; strictly nocturnal. Locally common in southeast and central-southern England. Favours undisturbed meadows and downs, often on chalk but also on neutral soils.
    157180.jpg
  • Holly Blue - Celastrina argiolus - male (top row) - female (bottom row). Wingspan 30mm. A familiar sight in mature gardens, especially if the larval foodplants (Holly and Ivy) grow nearby. In flight, looks rather silvery and can be hard to follow. Adult has violet-blue upperwings (seldom revealed at rest) and black-dotted white underwings. Double brooded: flies April-May and August-September. Eggs from spring brood are laid on Holly; in autumn they are laid on Ivy. Larva is green and grub-like. Fairly common in southern England, south Wales and southern Ireland.
    157177.jpg
  • Gatekeeper - Maniola tithonius - male (top row) - female - bottom row. Wingspan 40mm. A classic hedgerow and wayside butterfly, and a sign that summer has arrived; often feeds on Bramble flowers. Adult has brown upperwings with broad orange patches and an eyespot with twin highlights on the forewing. Underside of hindwing is marbled brown and buffish-white; forewing has large orange patch with an eyespot. Flies July–Aug. Larva feeds on grasses and is nocturnal. Locally common in central and southern England and Wales, and southern Ireland.
    157175.jpg
  • Duke of Burgundy - Hamearis lucina - male (top row) - female (bottom row). Wingspan 25mm. A tiny butterfly, unrelated to true fritillary butterflies. Flight is rapid and buzzing. Adult has upperwings that are beautifully patterned with orange and brown; underwings, particularly hindwings, have striking white spots. Flies May–June. Larva is brown and is nocturnal; feeds mainly on Cowslip but also Primrose. Local and declining, confined to chalk downs in southern England where larval foodplants grow.
    157174.jpg
  • Common Blue - Polyommatus icarus - male (top row) - female (middle and bottom row). Wingspan 32mm. Britain’s commonest and most widespread blue butterfly. Adult male has blue upperwings; female’s are usually brown (sometimes tinged blue in the middle) with submarginal orange spots. Underwings of both sexes are grey-brown with white-ringed dark spots and orange submarginal spots on hindwing. Flies April–September in two or three successive broods. Larva feeds on Bird’s-foot Trefoil and related plants. Common in grassy places where larval foodplant grows.
    157173.jpg
  • Comma - Polygonia c album - male (top row) - female (middle row) - form hutchinsoni (bottom row; left=female, right=male). Wingspan 45mm. Unmistakable butterfly with ragged-edged wing margins. Adult has orange-brown upperwings marked with dark spots; grey-brown underwings show a white ‘comma’ mark. Double-brooded and hibernates: seen on the wing March–April, and again August-October. Larva has tufts of spiny hairs and is orange-brown with a white dorsal band; feeds on Common Nettle, elms and Hop. Locally fairly common in England and Wales.
    157171.jpg
  • Northern Brown Argus - Aricia artexerxes - ssp. artaxerxes (top and middle row) - <br />
ssp. salmacis = Durham Argus (bottom row).  Wingspan 25mm. A distinctive butterfly and the northern counterpart of the Brown Argus. Adult has rich brown upperwings and orange submarginal spots; compared to Brown Argus note the white spot on the upper forewing. Underwings are grey-brown with white-ringed black spots, and orange submarginal spots. Flies June-July. Larva is grub-like and feeds on Common Rock-rose. Very local in calcareous grassland in northern England and Scotland.
    157169.jpg
  • Chalkhill Blue - Polyommatus coridon - male (top row; far right = aberration) - female - (bottom row; far right = aberration). Wingspan 40mm. Iconic downland butterfly, males of which are a unique colour amongst British blues. Adult male has pale sky-blue upperwings; female’s are dark brown with orange submarginal spots. Underwings of both sexes are grey-brown with spots. Flies July–August. Larva feeds on Horseshoe Vetch; sometimes discovered at dusk being attended by ants. Very local and restricted to chalk and limestone grassland in southern England.
    157170.jpg
  • Brown Argus - Aricia agestis - male (top row) - female (bottom row). Wingspan 25mm. A well-marked butterfly of grassy habitats. Adult recalls a female Common Blue but note the smaller size and that orange submarginal spots on brown upperwings are much more striking. Underwings are grey-brown with white-ringed black spots, and orange submarginal spots. Double-brooded: flies May-Aug. Larva is grub-like and feeds on Common Rock-rose and storksbills. A distinctly local species, restricted to southern and central England, and often on chalk downland.
    157168.jpg
  • Adonis Blue - Polyommatus bellargus - male (top row) - female (middle and bottom row). Wingspan 32mm. A classic chalk downland butterfly, males of which are dazzling. Adult male has iridescent blue upperwings with black and white margins; female’s upperwings are brown with orange submarginal spots. Underwings of both sexes are grey-brown with spots. Double brooded: flies May–June and July–August. Larva feeds on Horseshoe Vetch; can sometimes be found in short turf being attended by ants. Very local in southern England but entirely restricted to chalk downs.
    157167.jpg
  • Grayling - Hipparchia semele - male (top) - female (bottom). Wingspan 50mm. An active, sun-loving butterfly. Typically rests with its wings folded and angled to sun to cast the least shadow. Adult has well patterned underwings: hindwing is marbled grey and brown while forewing has an orange patch with two eyespots. Forewings are seldom revealed at rest, but are buffish brown with a yellowish submarginal band marked with eyespots. Flies June–August. Larva feeds on grasses. Widespread but only locally common, favouring warm, dry places including sea cliffs, heaths and dunes.
    157060.jpg
  • Wall Brown - Lasiommata megera - male (top row) - female (middle row) - female in natural pose (bottom row). Wingspan 45mm. A well-marked, sun-loving butterfly. Adult has orange-brown upperwings; patterns and colour recall a fritillary butterfly but note the small eyespots on the wings. Double-brooded: flies April–May and July–September. Larva feeds on grasses and is strictly nocturnal. Widespread in England and Wales but declining and now rather scarce; easiest to see on grassy heaths and on coasts.
    157058.jpg
  • Large Heath - Coenonympha tullia - male, ssp. davus - Lake District (top row) - <br />
female, ssp. davus - Lake District (2nd row) - male, ssp. polydama - Scottish borders (3rd row). Hardy, upland butterfly. Adult seldom reveals upperwings; underside of hindwing is grey-brown while orange-brown forewing has a small eyespot. Flies June-July. Only flies in sunny weather and drops into vegetation the instant a cloud obscures the sun. Larva feeds on White Beak-sedge. Status Local on waterlogged acid moors from central Wales northwards; most widespread in Scotland, very local in Ireland.<br />
bottom row - male, ssp. scotica - NW Scotland
    157057.jpg
  • Small Heath - Coenonympha pamphilus - male (top row) - female (bottom row). Wingspan 30mm. A tiny grassland butterfly that invariably rests with its wings closed; upperwings are almost never revealed. Underside of forewing is orange with an eyespot; hindwing is marbled grey, brown and buff. Double-brooded: flies May–June and August–September. Larva feeds on grasses and is nocturnal. Widespread but locally common only in southern England; range has contracted because it is restricted to unimproved grassland and does not tolerate modern agricultural practices.
    157056.jpg
  • Heath Fritillary - Melitaea athalia - male (top) - typical female (middle) - aberrant female underwing (bottom). Wingspan 45mm. A rather sluggish and slow-flying butterfly. Adult has dark orange brown upperwings with bold dark markings; underwings are creamy-white with chestnut-brown markings. Flies June–July. Larva is blackish with bristly orange spikes; feeds on Common Cow-wheat, Wood-sage or plantains. Rare and local, mainly in southeast and southwest England; favours sunny woodland rides.
    157046.jpg
  • Glanville Fritillary - Melitaea cinxia - male (top row) - female (bottom row). Wingspan 40mm. A beautifully marked butterfly that is active only in sunshine; remains concealed in cover on overcast days. Adult has orange-brown upperwings; underwings are creamy-white and orange-buff. Flies May–June. Larva is black and bristly, with a red head; feeds gregariously on Sea Plantain. Very locally common on undercliffs on Isle of Wight and south Hampshire.
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  • Marsh Fritillary - Euphydryas aurinia - male (top row) - female (bottom row). Wingspan 40-50mm. A rather lethargic butterfly, that is fond of basking in sunshine. Adult is beautifully marked with reddish-orange, buff and yellow; upperwings are more colourful than underwings. Flies May–June. Larva is black with tufts of spiny hairs; feeds on Devil’s-bit Scabious and plantains. Widespread but very local on heaths and chalk grassland; mainly in southwest England and Wales, and southwest Scotland.
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  • Marsh Fritillary - Euphydryas aurinia - male (top) - female (bottom). Wingspan 40-50mm. A rather lethargic butterfly, that is fond of basking in sunshine. Adult is beautifully marked with reddish-orange, buff and yellow; upperwings are more colourful than underwings. Flies May–June. Larva is black with tufts of spiny hairs; feeds on Devil’s-bit Scabious and plantains. Widespread but very local on heaths and chalk grassland; mainly in southwest England and Wales, and southwest Scotland.
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  • Dark Green Fritillary - Argynnis aglaia - male (top) - female (bottom). Wingspan 60mm. An active, fast-flying butterfly, seen skimming and gliding over open ground and feeding on the flowers of thistles and knapweeds. Adult has orange-brown upperwings; underside of hindwing is suffused with olive-green scaling. Flies July–August. Larva is black with spiky hairs; feeds on violets. Widespread but local on chalk downland and sand dunes in Britain and Ireland; commonest near coasts and in western half of region.
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  • Red Admiral - Vanessa atalanta. Upperwing - top, underwing - bottom. Wingspan 60mm. An active, fast-flying butterfly that is also fond of basking in the sun. Adult has marbled dark-grey underwings and black upperwings with red bands and white spots. Commonest in July–August, but also seen in many other months. Larva is spiny and brown with yellow markings; feeds on Common Nettle, hidden inside ‘tent’ of woven-together leaves. Mainly a summer migrant from southern Europe, but adults hibernate in small numbers and emerge on sunny days in early spring.
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  • Large Copper - Lycaena dispar - male (top) - female (bottom).
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  • Mountain Ringlet - Erebia epiphron - top row (Lake District) - bottom row (Scotland). Wingspan 32mm. A small and surprisingly delicate butterfly given the hostile upland habitats it favours. Adult has brown upperwings with an orange band marked with small eyespots. Underwings are brown overall; on forewing note broad yellow-orange central area, with small dark eyespots. Flies June–July but only active in sunshine; drops into cover immediately a cloud obscures the sun. Larva feeds on grasses. Very local on moors and mountains in Lake District and central Scottish Highlands.
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  • Large Blue - Maculinea arion - male (top) - female (middle and bottom).
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  • Grizzled Skipper - Pyrgus malvae - female (top) - male (middle) - male, form taras (bottom). Wingspan 20mm. A well-marked skipper. Adult has dark grey-brown upperwings with striking white spots; underwings are reddish-brown with numerous pale spots. Flies May–June. Larva feeds on Wild Strawberry and various cinquefoils. Locally common in southern England and south Wales. Associated with undisturbed grassland and woodland clearings where larval foodplants thrive.
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  • Silver-spotted Skipper - Hesperia comma - (male - top, female - bottom). Wingspan 34mm. An iconic butterfly that is restricted to chalk downland. Adult recalls a Large Skipper but the dark brown upperwings have distinctive pale spots; the greenish-brown underwings have silvery-white spots after which the species is named. Flies August-September. Larva is nocturnal and feeds on grasses. Very local in southern England, and only on chalk downs.
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  • Brown Hairstreak - Thecla betulae - (female - top; male - bottom). Wingspan 40-50mm. A lethargic butterfly and a sluggish flier; often prefers to walk over foliage rather than fly. Adult has dark brown upperwings; male has orange patch on forewing. Underwings are orange-brown with white line. Flies August. Larva is slug-like and feeds on Blackthorn. Very local in southern and central England and Wales. Favours Blackthorn scrub and hedgerows.
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  • Green Hairstreak - Callophrys rubi - Upperwing (top) Underwing (bottom) Wingspan 25mm. A small butterfly whose buzzing flight is hard to follow. Adult seldom reveals brown upperwings; underwings are bright green and an extremely good match for the leaves on which it rests. Flies May–June. Larva feeds on gorses, Heather and trefoils. Locally common on heaths, cliffs and downland scrub.
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  • Large Skipper - Ochlodes venatus. (Male - top; Female - bottom) Wingspan 34mm. Colourful little butterfly that typically holds its wings angled in a moth-like manner. Adult has dark brown upperwings with pale markings. Underwings are buffish orange with paler spots. Flies June–July. Larva is nocturnal and feeds on various grasses. Common and widespread in England and Wales in a wide range of grassy habitats.
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  • Clouded Yellow - Colias croceus - Male (top) - female - (middle) - female, form helice (bottom). Wingspan 50mm. A fast-flying migrant visitor to Britain, from mainland Europe. Adult has dark-bordered upperwings that are rich orange-yellow in male, pale yellow in female. Both sexes have yellow underwings with a few dark markings. Larva is green with pale yellow lateral line; feeds on Lucerne and other members of the pea family. A summer visitor to Britain, seen mainly in coastal areas; generally scarce but common in some years.
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  • Small Skipper - Thymelicus sylvestris - male (top) - female (bottom). Wingspan 25mm. An active butterfly with a buzzing flight. Fond of sunbathing with its wings held at an angle; often visits thistles and knapweed flowers. Adult has orange-brown upperwings and orange-buff underwings. Brown underside to antennal tip distinguishes it from similar Essex skipper. Flies July–August. Larva is nocturnal and feeds on various grasses. A common and widespread meadow species.
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  • Lulworth Skipper - Thymelicus acteon - male (top) - female (bottom). Wingspan 28mm. Well-marked butterfly; like other skippers it has an active, buzzing flight. Adult has olive-brown upperwings. Forewing has crescent of pale spots like a paw-print; markings are brighter on females than on males. Flies June–July. Larva is nocturnal and feeds on grasses. Very local in coastal grassland from Purbeck in Dorset to east Devon.
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  • Clouded Yellow - Colias croceus. Male (top) - female (bottom). Wingspan 50mm. A fast-flying migrant visitor to Britain, from mainland Europe. Adult has dark-bordered upperwings that are rich orange-yellow in male, pale yellow in female. Both sexes have yellow underwings with a few dark markings. Larva is green with pale yellow lateral line; feeds on Lucerne and other members of the pea family. A summer visitor to Britain, seen mainly in coastal areas; generally scarce but common in some years.
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  • Brimstone - Gonepteryx rhamni. Male (top) - female (bottom). Wingspan 60mm. A colourful butterfly and a harbinger of spring. Adult has distinctive wings: rounded overall with pointed tips; those on the forewings are hooked. Male is brimstone-yellow; female is much paler and could be mistaken for a Large White in flight. Single-brooded: adults hatch in August, then hibernate and emerge on sunny spring days. Larva is green with pale lateral line; feeds on Buckthorn and Alder Buckthorn. Locally common in England and Wales.
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  • Large White - Pieris brassicae. Male (top) - female (bottom). Wingspan 60mm. As its name suggests, this the largest British ‘white’ butterfly. Adult upperwings are creamy-white with black tip to forewing; female has additional two spots on forewing. Underwings are yellowish. Adult flies May–September. Larva is black and yellow and feeds on cabbages and related plants; usually found in groups. Common and widespread, and often seen in the garden.
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  • Purple Hairstreak - Neozephyrus quercus = Favonius quercus. Male (top) - female  (centre and bottom (underside)). Wingspan 38mm. A rather enigmatic butterfly that can be hard to observe closely. As an adult it usually remains close to the top of the mature tree where its life-cycle began. Lives in colonies. Adults have brown upperwings; males have purple sheen on both wings, in females it is restricted to hindwings. Underwings are grey with hairstreak line. Larva is brown and rather slug-like; feeds on oak buds. Widespread but locally common only in southern England and Wales.
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  • Cryptic Wood White - Leptidea juvernica. Male (top) - female (bottom).
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  • Orange-tip - Anthocharis cardamines. Male (top) - female (bottom). Wingspan 40mm. A familiar spring butterfly, males of which are unmistakable. Adult has rounded wings. Forewing is dark-tipped but male has an adjacent orange patch. Underside of hindwing of both sexes is marbled green and white. Adult flies April–June. Larva is green with whitish counter shading; feeds mainly on Cuckoo-flower. Widespread in southern Britain and Ireland; associated with open woodland, verges, and rural gardens.
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  • Wood White - Leptidea sinapis. Male 1st generation (top) - female 1st generation (second down) - male 2nd generation (third down) - female 2nd generation (bottom).
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  • White-letter Hairstreak - Strymondia w-album. Male (top) - female (bottom). Wingspan 35mm. Small, active butterfly that is hard to observe closely. Usually flies around treetops but also visits Bramble flowers to feed. Adult seldom reveals upperwings. Underwings are brown with jagged orange band and white ‘w’ on hindwing. Flies July-Aug. Larva is rather slug-like and feeds on elms. Widespread loss of larval foodplants from Dutch elm disease has caused decline. Today it is very local, in central and southern England and Wales.
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  • Chequered Skipper - Carterocephalus palaemon. Male (top) - female (bottom). Wingspan 25mm. An attractive little butterfly that attracts conservation interest. Hides in deep cover on dull days; active and fast-flying on sunny days but fond of sunbathing. Adult has rich brown upperwings with orange-yellow spots; underwings are paler brown than upperwings, with pale spots. Flies May–June. Larva is nocturnal and feeds on various grasses. Very locally common in open birchwoods in northwest Scotland; used to live in England but now extinct there.
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