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Types of Blue Butterflies

Adonis Blue​
Adonis Blue​

Unlike its close relative, the Chalkhill Blue, the larva of the Adonis Blue feeds by day. The larva has a Newcomer's gland in the 7th segment which provides secretions that are attractive to ants. This is a symbiotic relationship for, like many other blues, the Adonis Blue larva (and pupa) is afforded protection by the ants from parasites and other predators.

Brown Argus​
Brown Argus​

Unlike most other "blues", the Brown Argus has no blue scales on its upperside, both sexes being primarily brown in colour as its common name suggests, although the butterfly does exhibit a blue sheen when at certain angles to the light.

Brown ​Hairstreak​
Brown ​Hairstreak​

Brown Hairstreak (video) Scientific name: Thecla betulae The largest hairstreak in the UK is an elusive butterfly that spends most of its time either high in the canopy of trees, or hiding in hedgerows.

Cabbage ​White​
Cabbage ​White​

Cabbage White Butterfly can be referred to the two counterparts of the same species namely the Small White Butterfly and the Large White Butterfly. The butterflies are the offspring belonging to Pieridae family.

Chalkhill Blue​
Chalkhill Blue​

Weather patterns over the last decade or so have not been kind to the Chalkhill Blue and, even though the population trend is one of increase, there is a worrying decline in distribution. This is therefore a butterfly of conservation concern.

Chequered ​Skipper​
Chequered ​Skipper​

The chequered skipper (Carterocephalus palaemon), not to be confused with the large chequered skipper, is a small woodland butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. This butterfly can live in grasslands. The upperside of the butterfly is brown with orange spots and on its underside the chequered skipper is orange with brown spots.

Clouded ​Yellow​
Clouded ​Yellow​

The Clouded Yellow is one of the truly migratory European butterflies and a regular visitor to Britain and Ireland. Although some of these golden-yellow butterflies are seen every year, the species is famous for occasional mass immigrations and subsequent breeding, which are fondly and long remembered as ''Clouded Yellow Years''.

Common Blue​
Common Blue​

The Common Blue is the most widespread blue butterfly in Britain and Ireland and is found in a variety of grassy habitats all over the British Isles. The male has blue wings with a black-brown border and a thin white fringe.

image: flickr.com
Dark Green ​Fritillary​
Dark Green ​Fritillary​

Dark Green Fritillary (video) Scientific name: Argynnis aglaja This large, powerful, orange and black butterfly is one of our most widespread fritillaries and can be seen flying rapidly in a range of open sunny habitats.

image: doovi.com
Dingy Skipper​
Dingy Skipper​

Despite its name, a freshly-emerged Dingy Skipper reveals a subtle pattern of browns and greys that is quite beautiful. However, this butterfly does live up to its name as scales are lost over time, resulting in a lacklustre and drab appearance.

Duke of ​Burgundy​
Duke of ​Burgundy​

The Duke of Burgundy is a small, springtime butterfly that frequents scrubby grassland and sunny woodland clearings and is one of the most rapidly declining butterflies in the UK. It was once classified as a Fritillary, but is now the only butterfly in the UK in the subfamily Hamearis lucina, known as the "metalmarks".

Gatekeeper​
Gatekeeper​

Gatekeeper Butterfly (Pyronia tithonus) A pretty orange and brown butterfly, the Gatekeeper is widespread and common across central and southern counties of the England and Wales, often seen in mid-summer basking in hedgerows in the warm summer sunshine, or feeding on nectar from Bramble Flowers, Wild Marjoram or Common Ragwort, although it will feed from many other plants as well.

image: mbaker.co.uk
Glanville ​Fritillary​
Glanville ​Fritillary​

The Glanville fritillary (Melitaea cinxia) is a butterfly of the Nymphalidae family. It is named for the naturalist who discovered it and the checkerboard pattern on its wings. These butterflies live mostly in Europe, especially Finland, and across temperate Asia.

Grayling​
Grayling​

The grayling or rock grayling (Hipparchia semele) is a species in the brush-footed butterfly family Nymphalidae. Although found all over Europe, the grayling mostly inhabits coastal areas, with inland populations declining significantly in recent years.

Green ​Hairstreak​
Green ​Hairstreak​

The Green Hairstreak caterpillar is the only Hairstreak to hibernate as a chrysalis (pupa). The brown, hairy chrysalis, as with many other Lycaenids, has a mutually beneficial relationship with ants. In return for protection, the chysalis provides the ants with secretions, using an attractive sound to draw in the ants.

Green-Veined ​White​
Green-Veined ​White​

Some authorities consider P. napi to be a superspecies that includes the American species mustard white and West Virginia white as well as the European dark-veined white. However, the American butterflies cannot successfully reproduce by laying eggs on the invasive weed garlic mustard, Alliaria petiolata, a fact that threatens their survival as garlic mustard out-competes native mustard plants due to having no biological control species present in North America.

Grizzled ​Skipper​
Grizzled ​Skipper​

The grizzled skipper (Pyrgus malvae) is a common butterfly from the family Hesperiidae that is widespread throughout Europe. It is a small Skipper (butterfly) with a chequered pattern on its wings that appears to be black and white.

Heath Fritillary​
Heath Fritillary​

Heath fritillary is not listed on the IUCN Red List, suggesting that globally it is not considered threatened. In the UK, however, the species was "considered to be the most endangered British butterfly" after a nationwide survey in 1980 found only 31 surviving colonies.

High Brown ​Fritillary​
High Brown ​Fritillary​

Argynnis adippe, the high brown fritillary, is a large and brightly colored butterfly of the Nymphalidae family, native to Europe and across the Palearctic to Japan. It is known for being Great Britain's most threatened butterfly and is listed as a vulnerable species under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

Holly Blue​
Holly Blue​

The Holly Blue is primarily found in the southern half of the British Isles, and is a frequent visitor to gardens. This species is renowned for fluctuating wildly in numbers, forming a predictable cycle over a few years, believed to be caused by parasitism from the wasp Listrodomus nycthemerus whose sole host is the Holly Blue.

Large Blue​
Large Blue​

The largest and rarest of our blue butterflies. This is the largest and rarest of our blue butterflies, distinguished by the unmistakable row of black spots on its upper forewing. Undersides are pale brown with black spots.

Large Heath​
Large Heath​

The Large Heath is restricted to wet boggy habitats in northern Britain, Ireland, and a few isolated sites in Wales and central England. The adults always sit with their wings closed and can fly even in quite dull weather provided the air temperature is higher than 14B:C.

Large Skipper​
Large Skipper​

Butterfly Conservation is a British charity devoted to saving butterflies, moths and their habitats throughout the UK.

image: mbaker.co.uk
Large White​
Large White​

Identify Butterflies. On this page we'll help you identify butterflies you may see in your garden or in the field by their shape, wingspan, opened and closed wing color, common name and family name.

image: alamy.com
Lulworth ​Skipper​
Lulworth ​Skipper​

The Lulworth skipper (Thymelicus acteon) is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. Its name is derived from Lulworth Cove in the county of Dorset, England, where the first specimens in Great Britain were collected in 1832 by English naturalist James Charles Dale.

Marbled White​
Marbled White​

The Marbled White is often found with parasitic red mites, Trombidium breei in particular, attached to its thorax, although such parasitism does not appear to affect the butterfly in any way. Adults feed primarily on Thistles (Cirsium spp. and Carduus spp.).

image: flickr.com
Marsh Fritillary​
Marsh Fritillary​

The Marsh Fritillary is threatened, not only in the UK but across Europe, and is therefore the object of much conservation effort. The wings of this beautiful butterfly are more brightly patterned than those of other fritillaries, with more heavily marked races being found in Scotland and Ireland.

Meadow ​Brown​
Meadow ​Brown​

The Meadow Brown is one of our commonest and most widespread butterflies, and a familiar sight throughout the summer months. This species can be found in all parts of the British Isles, with the exception of the most mountainous regions and Shetland.

image: flickr.com
Northern ​Brown Argus​
Northern ​Brown Argus​

However, this situation may change with global warming as the Brown Argus moves further north. Brown Argus and Northern Brown Argus distributions Chalk Hill Blue. Description to be completed. Common Blue. Of the two sexes, it is the female Common Blue that causes most confusion with the Northern Brown Argus. The blue present in a female Common Blue is highly variable, with individuals ranging from almost completely blue through to completely brown.

Orange-tip​
Orange-tip​

Black Blue Brown Copper Grey Orange Pink Purple Red White Yellow ... Orange-tip (male ... white butterflies with bright orange wing ...

Painted Lady​
Painted Lady​

The painted lady (V. cardui) is a large butterfly (wing span 5–9 cm (2.0–3.5 in)) identified by the black and white corners of its mainly deep orange, black-spotted wings.

Pearl-​Bordered Fritillary​
Pearl-​Bordered Fritillary​

It can be distinguished from the Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary by the two large silver 'pearls' and row of seven outer 'pearls' on the underside hind wing, and also the red (as opposed to black) chevrons around the outer pearls and the small central spot on the hind wing.

Purple ​Emperor​
Purple ​Emperor​

Unlike most butterflies, the purple emperor does not feed from flowers but instead on the honeydew secreted by aphids, sap oozing from oak trees, and on dung, urine and animal carcasses.

Red Admiral​
Red Admiral​

The red butterfly is a symbol of instense romance and passion. In Scotland, a red butterfly was once believed to be a witch in disguise. Red or pink butterflies are said to promise many years of happiness to come. In some cultures, a red butterfly (or red admiral butterfly in particular) actually is as a symbol of evil, or represents danger.

Scotch Argus​
Scotch Argus​

In Europe and Russia, these butterflies prefer the edge of pine forests and tall damp grassland in hills and mountains up to 2400 m. Description. Erebia aethiops has a wingspan of 42–46 mm. Antennae are clavate (club shaped).

Silver-Spotted ​Skipper​
Silver-Spotted ​Skipper​

Silver Spotted Skipper Silver Spotted Skipper Butterfly Characteristics The Silver Spotted Skipper is a medium size butterfly characterized by fast, erratic fight.

Silver-​Studded Blue​
Silver-​Studded Blue​

A rare butterfly confined to small colonies in England and Wales. Males blue with dark border. Females brown with row of red spots. Undersides brown-grey with black spots, a row of orange spots, and small greenish flecks on outer margin. Males similar to Common Blue, which lacks greenish spots.

image: youtube.com
Silver-Washed ​Fritillary​
Silver-Washed ​Fritillary​

The Silver-washed Fritillary declined during the twentieth century, especially in England and Wales, but has spread noticeably during recent decades. Widespread across southern England and Wales and more locally in northern England and Ireland.

Small Blue​
Small Blue​

The blue line gives average counts over the full data set from 1976 to date, and the red line gives the average for the last year. Imago Both sexes spend a large amount of time basking or resting.

Small Copper​
Small Copper​

Color of Small Copper Butterfly: The larvae stage can have varied colors but the noticeable ones are red, yellow and pale yellowish green dotted with red marks along the sides or back. Size of Small Copper Butterfly: It is seen that the size of a fully developed larvae is about ¾ th inch.

image: mnn.com
Small Heath​
Small Heath​

The small heath (Coenonympha pamphilus) is a butterfly species belonging to the family Nymphalidae, classified within the subfamily Satyrinae (commonly known as "the browns"). It is the smallest butterfly in this subfamily.

Small ​Mountain Ringlet​
Small ​Mountain Ringlet​

The Mountain Ringlet is our only true montane species and is found on mountains above 350m amidst the spectacular scenery of the Scottish Highlands and the English Lake District. The adults are highly active only in bright sunshine but can be disturbed from the ground even in quite dull weather.

Small Pearl-​Bordered Fritillary​
Small Pearl-​Bordered Fritillary​

The Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary is a delightful butterfly found in discrete colonies. Patrolling males can be seen flying a couple of feet from the ground, alternating a burst of rapid wing beats with a short glide, searching out freshly-emerged females in the surrounding scrub.

Small Skipper​
Small Skipper​

The male Small Skipper is territorial, and can be found resting on suitable perches from which it intercepts any passing butterfly. The male is the more active of the two sexes; females being more sedentary. Females exhibit unusual behaviour when egg-laying.

image: mbaker.co.uk
Small ​Tortoiseshell​
Small ​Tortoiseshell​

The Small Tortoiseshell is one of our most-familiar butterflies, appearing in gardens throughout the British Isles. Unfortunately, this butterfly has suffered a worrying decline, especially in the south, over the last few years.

Speckled ​Wood​
Speckled ​Wood​

The speckled wood (Pararge aegeria) is a butterfly found in and on the borders of woodland areas throughout much of the Palearctic ecozone. The species is subdivided into multiple subspecies, including Pararge aegeria aegeria, Pararge aegeria tircis, Pararge aegeria oblita, and Pararge aegeria insula.

Swallowtail ​Butterfly​
Swallowtail ​Butterfly​

Spicebush Swallowtail Butterfly Wings are black with light colored spots, or scales, on the trailing edges. On the male, the spots are a pale green, and on the female the spots are iridescent blue. The underwings feature bright orange spots.

Wood White​
Wood White​

The Wood White breeds in tall grassland or light scrub, in partially shaded or edge habitats. In Britain, most colonies breed in woodland rides and clearings, though a few large colonies occur on coastal undercliffs.