INSECTS

LEPIDOPTERA

BRUSH-FOOTED BUTTERFLIES

Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta is a medium-sized butterfly with black wings, red bands, and white spots. Its wingspan is about 5cm. It was once known as the Red Admirable

Painted Lady Vanessa cardui arrives from the Mediterranean each year and is most often seen in Britain from July to September.

Small Tortoiseshell Aglais urticae is found in the meadows during summer, however in recent years it has been suffering a steady decline. This may be caused by the fly Sturmia bella, which has seen an increase in population due to climate change. The fly's larvae feed on the Small Tortoiseshell's caterpillars.

Peacock Aglais io has spectacular wing spots that have evolved to startle and scare away predators. The wing undersides resemble dead leaves. Maximum wingspan about 69mm. Often found along sheltered woodland paths. Eggs are laid on stinging nettles from which blackish caterpillars emerge to feed.

Comma Polygonia c-album has upper wings that are orange-brown with black and yellowish-brown markings. Undersides are shades of brown with a white 'comma' on the hind underwing. At rest the Comma resembles a withered leaf. Maximum wingspan of females is about 60mm, males are generally smaller. When hop farming declined so did the Comma because large quantities of the larval foodplant disappeared. Stinging nettles became the major foodplant.

White Admiral Limenitis camilla is on the wing from June until August visiting brambles for nectar. The green caterpillars feed on honeysuckle. Wingspan about 60mm.