INSECTS

LEPIDOPTERA / BUTTERFLIES

SKIPPERS, WHITES AND BROWNS

Essex Skipper Thymelicus lineola are similar in appearance to Small Skippers and many recorders treat them as an aggregate. To tell the two species apart the antennae MUST be viewed from the front. If they look like they have been dipped in black ink then it is an Essex Skipper. If not, it is a Small Skipper. This identification cannot be made by looking at the back of the antennae.

Small Skippers Thymelicus sylvestris are similar in appearance to Essex Skippers. To tell the two species apart the antennae MUST be viewed from the front. If they do not look like they have been dipped in black ink then it is an Small Skipper.

Large Skippers Ochlodes sylvanus are usually found in grassy locations. Males often perch on bramble in sunny locations waiting for passing females. Males have a thick black line through the middle of fore-wing. A distinctive faint chequered pattern can be seen on the wing sides. 

Orange-tip Anthocharis cardamines males are white with bright orange wing tips. Females are white with black wing tips. Both sexes have mottled green underwings.

Large White Pieris brassicae is a large butterfly with a wingspan reaching 70mm across. The white forewings have black tips extending down the wing edge. Females have two spots on the forewings, not present in males. The wings have creamy-white undersides. Its caterpillars feed on plants in the Cabbage family.

Small White Pieris rapae is very much like the Large White, but smaller. The caterpillars feed on members of the Cabbage family.

Green-veined White Pieris napi has white wings have prominent greenish veins on the hind wing. The upper wings have one or more spots. The caterpillars feed on plants in the Cabbage family.

Clouded Yellow Colias croceus is an attractive immigrant normally originating from North Africa and Southern Europe. Numbers vary and some years we don't see them at all in Hainault Forest.

Brimstone Gonepteryx rhamni males have yellowish-green underwings and yellow uppers. Female wings are very pale green or nearly white. They sometimes rest under bramble and can be difficult to spot. The caterpillars feed on Buckthorn and Alder Buckthorn.

Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria is a common woodland butterfly with a wingspan of about 45mm. Often seen resting on bramble along woodland paths. Adults fly in two broods from April to early June and again from July to September. Males normally bask in sunlight and chase away trespassers encroaching on their territory. Both sexes visit tree tops to feed on honeydew made by aphids. This species rarely visits flowers to feed except early and late in the year when supplies of honeydew are low. The caterpillars feed on various grasses including false brome, cock's-foot and Yorkshire fog.

Small Heath Coenonympha pamphilus flies from May to September. Its larvae feed on a range of fine-leaved grasses. It has a preference for rough grassy locations.

Marbled White Melanargia galathea is an attractive butterfly that belongs to the Brown Family. It is seen mainly in July and August visiting knapweed, thistles and other flowers in unimproved grassland.

Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus. The number and size of the wing spots vary and sometimes the black rings are missing. This is a medium-sized species measuring up to 50mm across. Usually found flying near bramble along the shaded forest paths. The larvae feed on coarse grasses.

Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina is an a common butterfly flying in the meadows over low vegetation. Adults are spotted flying in dull weather when most other butterflies are inactive. They often rest with the wings shut.

Gatekeeper Pyronia tithonus is also known as the 'Hedge Brown'. Sexes are easy to tell apart because this butterfly spends a lot of time basking with wings open. Males have distinctive dark bars on the forewings. The larger female is usually lighter in colour.