Butterflies


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	Butterflies

Butterflies belong to the order Lepidoptera which also includes moths.
The adults suck nectar but their caterpillars eat leaves.
Butterflies fly during the day whilst moths mainly fly at night.
The best way to tell a butterfly apart from a moth is to look at the antennae, as the butterfly always has swollen or club-like tips.
Wlilst most species have been seen in a garden somewhere in the country, only about 20 species are commonly regarded as garden butterflies, and very few breed in gardens.
Butterflies can be encouraged into the garden by planting theyre favourite plants such as the buddliea or butterfly bush and by allowing the plants they lay their eggs on to grow.
The small tortoiseshell, Peacock and Comma are the most likely species to use a purpose built butterfly house.
Butterfly houses can be used all year round, providing an overnight roost during summer, a place to hibernate during winter and they may also use them for the chrysalis stage.
Butterfly attractant can be used to encourage them to the houses.

Red Admiral - Vanessa Atalanta

Wing span 50-64mm

Hibernates as an adult but rarely survives the british winter.

Butterfly food sources:- Michaelmas daisies, sedum, buddleia, teasel, scabious, clover, ivy flowers, rotten fruit, will also drink from puddles & sap from trees.

Caterpillar food sources:- Mostly nettles, occasionally hops and pelitory-of-the-wall.

Peacock - Inachis io

Wing span 50-60mm

The Peacock butterfly hibernates as adults in sheds, garages and other dry outbuildings and is therefore likely to use a butterfly box.

Butterfly food sources:- sedum, buddleia and rotten fruit.

Caterpillar food sources:- Nettles




		Caterpillar food source:- Nettles


	Small Tortoiseshell - Aglais urticae

Wing span 35-50mm


	The totoiseshell butterfly hibernates as an adult in sheds, garages and other dry outbuildings and is therefore likely to use a butterfly box.

		Butterfly food sources:- Thistles, sedum and buddleia.


	Large White - Pieris brassicae

Wing span 60-70mm


	The large white survives winter as a chrysalis.


	Caterpillar food source:- Cabbages and many other plants in the cabbage family, nasturtiums and mignonettes.

	Butterfly food source:- Thistles.


	Painted Lady - Cynthia Cardui

Wing span 50-60mm

The painted lady is a tropical and subtropical species. When a drought occurs in its home range and it cannot find food, it migrates north when there are favourable wind conditions and travels remarkable distances. It does not survive the british winter.

Butterfly food source:- Thistles, buddleias.


	Caterpillar food source:- Thistles, mallows, burdocks, stinging nettles.


	Comma - Polygonia c-album

Wing span 46-50mm


	Hibernates through winter as an adult. there colour ranges from pale to dark orange.


	Butterfly food source:- Thistles, buddleias, brambles, knapweeds, hemp agrimony, asters, michaelmas daisies and it is also fond of over ripe fruit.




		Caterpillar food source:- Nettles and currant bushes.


	Meadow Brown - Maniola jurtina

Wing span 50mm

The meadow brown is britains commonest butterfly.

Butterfly food source:- Thistles.


	Caterpillar food source:- Several types of grass including cocksfoot and poa species.


	Common Blue - Polyommatus icarus

Wing span 25-35mm




		Female


		The common blue overwinters as half-grown caterpillars.

Butterfly food source:- Fleabane, marjoram,thyme and will drink from puddles for mineral content..

	Caterpillar food source:- Bird foot trefoil, vetches, clovers, black medick and rest harrow.




		Male


	Brimstone - Gonepterys rhamni

Wing span 50-60mm


	The brimstone successfully hibernates as an adult in britain. It is thought the name “butterfly” came from this species.


	Caterpillar food source:- Entirely dependant on buckthorn and alder buckthorn.


	Butterfly food source:- Primroses, thistles and knapweeds.


	Speckled Wood Butterfly - Parage aegeria

Wing span 45mm

Butterfly food source:- Brambles and honeysuckle.

Caterpillar food source:- Various grasses such as couch grass and cock’sfoot.

Gatekeeper Butterfly - Pyronia tithonus

Wing span 38mm

Butterfly food source:- Brambles, marjoram, mints, wood sage and valerian.

Caterpillar food source:- Various grasses including cock’sfoot and poa species such as couch grass.




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	For more information on Butterfly Conservation go to www.butterfly-conservation.org/.

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