Butterflies of Northamptonshire Historical view of Weekley Hall Wood

The 36 species of Butterfly regularly found in Northamptonshire

Photos by Jeff Blincow

Grizzled Skipper Pyrgus malvae Locally common Habitat: Meadows Brigstock CP
Dingy Skipper Erynnis tages Locally common Habitat: Grassland Brigstock CP
Essex Skipper Thymelicus lineola Common Habitat: Flowery meadows Difficult to distinguish from Small Skipper
Small Skipper Thymelicus sylvestris Very common Habitat: Flowery grassland Difficult to distinguish from Essex Skipper
Large Skipper Ochlodes venata Very common Habitat: Meadows and woodland edges
Large White Pieris brassicae Very common Habitat: Most habitats Also known as Cabbage White
Small White Pieris rapae Very common Habitat: Most habitats
Green-veined White Pieris napi Very common Habitat: Most habitats Often mistaken for Small White
Orange Tip Anthocharis cardamines Common Habitat: Most habitats
Clouded Yellow Colias crocea Migrant Habitat: Most open habitats Migrant from the continent Numbers vary from year to year but always uncommon
Brimstone Gonepteryx rhamni Common Habitat: Most habitats
Wood White Leptidea sinapis Locally uncommon Habitat: Forest clearings and woodland edges Feeble flight is distinctive Salcey Forest
Purple Emperor Apatura iris Locally uncommon Habitat: Oak woodland A large butterfly with a powerful flight, usually stays in the tree tops Hazelborough Forest, Fermyn Wood
White Admiral Ladoga camilla Locally common Habitat: Broad-leaved woodland Seen gliding through woodland glades on warm summer days Salcey Forest, Bucknall Wood, Fermyn Wood
Small Tortoiseshell Aglais urticae Very common Habitat: Most habitats Adults overwinter
Comma Polygonia c-album Common Habitat: Most habitats Two generations, the first is lighter in colour, adults overwinter
Painted Lady Cynthia cardui Regular summer visitor from North Africa Habitat: Most habitats Often on or near thistles
Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta Common summer visitor from Continental Europe Habitat: Most habitats Territorial and so can be found in the same place each day
Peacock Inachis io Very common Habitat: Most habitats Distinctive gliding flight, adults overwinter
Marbled White Melanargia russiae Locally common Habitat: Grassland
Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina Very common Habitat: Grassland, hedgerows and woodland edges
Gatekeeper Pyronia tithonus Common Habitat: Grassland, hedgerows and woodland edges Also known as Hedge Brown
Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus Common Habitat: damp woodland and hedgerows
Small Heath Coenonympha pamphilus Locally common Habitat: Meadows
Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria Common Habitat: Woodland
Wall Brown Lasiommata megera Frequent Habitat: Grassland
Purple Hairstreak Quercusia quercus Locally common Habitat: Oak woodland
Black Hairstreak Strymonidia pruni Scarce Habitat: Woodland with Blackthorn Very restricted range in Britain Glapthorn Cow Pasture
White-letter Hairstreak Strymonidia w-album Scarce Habitat: Broad-leaved woodland including elms Decline due to loss of larval foodplant: elms
Green Hairstreak Callophrys rubi Locally common Habitat: Grassland with scrub Fast active flight Brigstock CP
Small Copper Lycaena phlaeas Locally common Habitat: Open countryside
Small Blue Cupido minimus Locally uncommon Habitat: Usually chalk grassland
Chalkhill Blue Polyommatus coridon Locally uncommon Habitat: Chalk grassland Collyweston Delphs
Holly Blue Celastrina argiolus Locally uncommon Habitat: Grassland, hedgerows and woodland edges
Brown Argus Aricia agestis Locally uncommon Habitat: Grassland Resembles a female blue Collyweston Delphs
Common Blue Polyommatus icarus Common Habitat: Grassy places The only blue to be found commonly in Northmaptonshire