A “retirement” quest is to take photographs of all the “native” British butterflies – so this Bingo card – with some lines now completed – is a record of these endeavours. Posted with the best will, given some of the intricacies of distinguishing skippers, whites…
Now updated in June 2022 by the addition of some magical Swallowtails, hot on the heals of our 50th and 51st butterflies that were the wonderful Chequered Skipper (first on the list below) and Small Pearl Bordered Fritillary. These followed the beautiful Pearl Bordered Fritillary in Wyre forest – and an updated Wood White from nearby Monkwood and now a stunning Black Hairstreak to update one of the “record” rather than money shots!
So 52 down – 6 to go? – regional variants/new arrivals add complexity (plus the cryptic Wood White, if we ever make a timely visit to Ireland); the last six will get harder and further afield!
Hesperiidae – skippers
Subfamily Heteropterinae
Chequered skipper – Carterocephalus palaemon
One of the re-established colony in Fineshade Wood, Northamptonshire, May 2022
Subfamily Hesperiinae
Small skipper – Thymelicus sylvestris
Essex skipper – Thymelicus lineola
Lulworth skipper – Thymelicus acteon
Trip to Dorset sometime…
Silver-spotted skipper – Hesperia comma
Large skipper – Ochlodes sylvanus
Subfamily Pyrginae
Dingy skipper – Erynnis tages tages
Grizzled skipper – Pyrgus malvae
Papilionidae – swallowtails
Subfamily Papilioninae
Swallowtail – Papilio machaon
We had previously seen in Norfolk (of course!) at Hickling Broad, fleetingly, and two at Strumpshaw fen June ’21 – but sadly too quick for the camera… Put right at Strumpshaw in June 2022 with a magical few minutes of a couple of individuals feeding and others flying by!
Pieridae – whites and yellows
Subfamily Dismorphiinae
Wood white – Leptidea sinapis sinapis
Subfamily Coliadinae
Dark clouded yellow – Colias croceus
Common brimstone – Gonepteryx rhamni rhamni
Subfamily Pierinae
Large white – Pieris brassicae
Small white – Pieris (Artogeia) rapae
Green-veined white – Pieris (Artogeia) napi
Orange tip – Anthocharis cardamines britannica
Lycaenidae – hairstreaks, coppers and blues
Subfamily Theclinae
Green hairstreak – Callophrys rubi
Brown hairstreak – Thecla betulae
Purple hairstreak – Neozephyrus (Quercusia) quercus
White-letter hairstreak – Satyrium (Strymonidia) w-album
Black hairstreak – Satyrium (Strymonidia) pruni
Subfamily Lycaena
Small copper – Lycaena phlaeas eleus
Subfamily Polyommatinae
Small blue – Cupido minimus
Silver-studded blue – Plebejus argus
Brown argus – Aricia agestis
Northern brown argus – Aricia artaxerxes
Need a sweep North at the right time, sometime…
Common blue – Polyommatus icarus icarus
Chalkhill blue – Lysandra coridon
Adonis blue – Lysandra bellargus
Holly blue – Celastrina argiolus britanna
Large blue – Phengaris arion
Riodinidae – metalmarks
Duke of Burgundy – Hamearis lucina
Nymphalidae – fritillaries, nymphalids and browns
Subfamily Heliconiinae
Small pearl-bordered fritillary – Boloria (Clossiana) selene
Pearl-bordered fritillary – Boloria (Clossiana) euphrosyne
Wyre Forest, May 2022
High brown fritillary – Fabriciana adippe
Need to time it right in West/Wales
Dark green fritillary – Speyeria aglaja
Silver-washed fritillary – Argynnis paphia
Subfamily Limenitidinae
White admiral – Limenitis camilla
Subfamily Apaturinae
Purple emperor – Apatura iris
Subfamily Nymphalinae
Red admiral – Vanessa atalanta
Painted lady – Vanessa cardui
Small tortoiseshell – Aglais urticae
Peacock – Aglais io
Comma – Polygonia c-album
Marsh fritillary – Euphydryas (Eurodryas) aurinia
Glanville fritillary – Melitaea cinxia
Heath fritillary – Melitaea athalia
Subfamily Satyrinae
Speckled wood – Pararge aegeria
Wall – Lasiommata megera
Small mountain ringlet – Erebia epiphron
Need a sweep North at the right time, sometime…
Marbled white – Melanargia galathea serena
Grayling – Hipparchia semele
Gatekeeper – Pyronia tithonus britanniae
Meadow brown – Maniola jurtina
Ringlet – Aphantopus hyperantus
Scotch Argus – Erebia aethiops
Need a sweep North, proabbly Scotland at the right time, sometime…
Small heath – Coenonympha pamphilus
Large heath – Coenonympha tullia
Need a sweep North at the right time, sometime…