Lepidoptera - UK and European Butterflies and Moths

Here are SORTABLE TABLES of many of the butterflies and moths you will see in the countryside in the UK and Europe ( and a few lovely butterflies and moths from further afield). There are links to larger pictures and information about each species. A PICTURE GALLERY version of this page is also available...

Butterflies

Pictures link to Details pages
Scarce Swallowtail - Iphiclides podalirius Scarce Swallowtail Iphiclides podalirius Papilionidae
Common Swallowtail butterfly, Papilio machaon Common Swallowtail Papilio machaon Papilionidae
Mountain Apollo, Parnassius apollo Mountain Apollo Parnassius apollo Papilionidae
Zerynthia rumina - Spanish Festoon butterfly Spanish Festoon Zerynthia rumina Papilionidae
Map butterfly, Araschnia levana Map Araschnia levana Nymphalidae
Red Admiral butterfly, Vanessa atalanta Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta Nymphalidae
Euphydryas aurinia - Marsh Fritillary Marsh Fritillary Euphydryas aurinia Nymphalidae
Comma butterfly, Polygona c-album Comma Polygonia c-album Nymphalidae
Argynnis paphia, Silver Washed Fritillary Silver Washed Fritillary Argynnis paphia Nymphalidae
Heath Fritillary, Melitaea athalia Heath Fritillary Melitaea athalia Nymphalidae
Nickerl's Fritillary, Melitaea aurelia Nickerl's Fritillary Melitaea aurelia Nymphalidae
Glanville Fritillary, Melitaea cinxia Glanville Fritillary Melitaea cinxia Nymphalidae
Provençal Fritillary, Melitaea deione Provençal Fritillary Melitaea deione Nymphalidae
False Heath Fritillary, Melitaea diamina False Heath Fritillary Melitaea diamina Nymphalidae
Spotted Fritillary, Melitaea didyma Spotted Fritillary Melitaea didyma Nymphalidae
Knapweed Fritillary, Melitaea phoebe Knapweed Fritillary Melitaea phoebe Nymphalidae
Argynnis aglaja, Dark Green Fritillary Dark Green Fritillary Argynnis aglaja Nymphalidae
Fabriciana adippe, High Brown Fritillary High Brown Fritillary Fabriciana adippe Nymphalidae
Boloria selene, Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary Boloria selene Nymphalidae
Boloria euphrosyne,  Pearl-bordered Fritillary Pearl-bordered Fritillary Boloria euphrosyne Nymphalidae
Brenthis daphne, Marbled Fritillary Marbled Fritillary Brenthis daphne Nymphalidae
Brenthis hecate, Twin-spot Fritillary Twin-spot Fritillary Brenthis hecate Nymphalidae
Queen of Spain Fritillary - Issoria lathonia Queen of Spain Fritillary Issoria lathonia Nymphalidae
Painted Lady butterfly, Vanessa cardui Painted Lady Vanessa cardui Nymphalidae
Small Tortoiseshell butterfly, Aglais urticae Small Tortoiseshell Aglais urticae Nymphalidae
Nymphalis polychloros - Large Tortoisehell butterfly Large Tortoiseshell Nymphalis polychloros Nymphalidae
Peacock butterfly, Inachis io Peacock Butterfly Inachis io Nymphalidae
Nymphalis antiopa, Camberwell Beauty or Mourning Cloak Camberwell Beauty Nymphalis antiopa Nymphalidae
Apatura ilia, Lesser Purple Emperor Lesser Purple Emperor Apatura ilia Nymphalidae
Apatura iris, Purple Emperor Purple Emperor Apatura iris Nymphalidae
Limenitis reducta - Southern White Admiral butterfly Southern White Admiral Limenitis reducta Nymphalidae
Limenitis camilla - White Admiral butterfly White Admiral Limenitis camilla Nymphalidae
Two-tailed Pasha butterfly - Charaxes jasius Two-tailed Pasha Charaxes jasius Nymphalidae
Monarch butterfly, Danaus plexippus Monarch Danaus plexippus Nymphalidae
Agraulis vanillae - Gulf Fritillary or Silver-spotted Flambeau Gulf Fritillary Agraulis vanillae Nymphalidae
Junonia evarete - Caribbean Buckeye butterfly Caribbean Buckeye Junonia evarete Nymphalidae
Meadow Brown butterfly, Maniola jurtina Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina Satyridae
Lasiommata maera, Large Wall Brown butterfly Large Wall Brown Lasiommata maera Satyridae
Lasiommata megera, Wall Brown butterfly Wall Brown Lasiommata megera Satyridae
Pyronia cecilia - Southern Gatekeeper Southern Gatekeeper Pyronia cecilia Satyridae
Gatekeeper butterfly, Pyronia tithonus Gatekeeper Pyronia tithonus Satyridae
Pearly Heath butterfly, Coenonympha arcania Pearly Heath Coenonympha arcania Satyridae
Small Heath butterfly, Coenonympha pamphilus Small Heath Coenonympha pamphilus Satyridae
Large Heath butterfly, Coenonympha tullia Large Heath Coenonympha tullia Satyridae
Grayling Butterfly, Hipparchia semele Grayling Hipparchia semele Satyridae
Marbled White butterfly, Melanargia galathea Marbled White Melanargia galathaea Satyridae
Spanish Marbled White, Melanargia ines Spanish Marbled White Melanargia ines Satyridae
Ringlet butterfly, Aphantopus hyperantus Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus Satyridae
Speckled wood butterfly, Pararge aegeria Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria Satyridae
Small White butterfly, Pieris rapae Small White Pieris rapae Pieridae
Green-veined white butterfly, Pieris napi Green-veined White Pieris napi Pieridae
Orange-tip butterfly, Anthocharis cardamines Orange-tip Anthocharis cardamines Pieridae
Provencal Orange-tip butterfly, Anthocharis euphenoides Provençal Orange-tip Anthocharis euphenoides Pieridae
Black-veined White butterfly, Aporia crataegi Black-veined White Aporia crataegi Pieridae
Euchloe belemia - Green-striped White Eastern Dappled White Euchloe ausonia Pieridae
Euchloe belemia - Green-striped White Green-striped White Euchloe belemia Pieridae
Euchloetagis, Portuguese Dappled White Portuguese Dappled White Euchloe tagis Pieridae
Large White butterfly, Pieris brassicae Large White Pieris brassicae Pieridae
Gonepteryx cleopatra - Cleopatra butterfly Cleopatra Gonepteryx cleopatra Pieridae
Gonepteryx cleopatra - Cleopatra butterfly Madeiran Cleopatra Gonepteryx maderensis Pieridae
Gonepteryx rhamni, Brimstone# butterfly Brimstone Gonepteryx rhamni Pieridae
Colias croceus - Clouded Yellow butterfly Clouded Yellow Colias croceus Pieridae
Leptidea sinapois, Wood White butterfly Wood White Leptidea sinapis Pieridae
Phoebis sennae - Cloudless Sulphur butterfly Cloudless Sulphur Phoebis sennae Pieridae
Eurema lisa - Small Sulphur butterfly Small Sulphur Eurema lisa Pieridae
Large Copper butterfly, Lycaena dispar Large Copper Lycaena dispar Lycaenidae
Small Copper butterfly, Lycaena phlaeas Small Copper Lycaena phlaeas Lycaenidae
Sooty Copper butterfly, Lycaena dispar Sooty Copper Lycaena tityrus Lycaenidae
Silver-studded blue butterfly Silver-studded Blue Plebeius argus Lycaenidae
Adonios Blue Polyommatus bellargus Adonis Blue Polyommatus bellargus Lycaenidae
Chalkhill Blue Polyommatus coridon Chalkhill Blue Polyommatus coridon Lycaenidae
Common Blue butterfly, Polyommatus icarus Common Blue Polyommatus icarus Lycaenidae
Holly Blue butterfly, Celastrina argiolus Holly Blue Celastrina argiolus Lycaenidae
Large Blue butterfly, Maculinea arion Large Blue Maculinea arion Lycaenidae
Lampides boeticus, Long-tailed Blue butterfly Long-tailed Blue Lampides boeticus Lycaenidae
Leptotes pirithous, Lang's Short-tailed Blue butterfly Lang's Long-tailed Blue Leptotes pirithous Lycaenidae
Glaucopsyche melanops, Black-eyed Blue Black-eyed Blue Glaucopsyche melanops Lycaenidae
Glaucopsyche paphos, Paphos Blue Paphos Blue Glaucopsyche paphos Lycaenidae
Aricia agestis, Brown Argus Brown Argus Aricia agestis Lycaenidae
Aricia cramera, Spanish Brown Argus Spanish Brown Argus Aricia cramera Lycaenidae
Cupido lorquinii - Lorquin's Blue butterfly Lorquin's Blue Cupido lorquinii Lycaenidae
Geranium Argus butterfly, Eumedonium eumedonia Geranium Argus Eumedonia eumedon Lycaenidae
Pseudophilotes abencerragus, False Baton Blue False baton Blue Pseudophilotes abencerragus Lycaenidae
Cupido minimus - Small Blue butterfly Small Blue Cupido minimus Lycaenidae
Scolitantides orion - Chequered Blue butterfly Chequered Blue Scolitantides orion Lycaenidae
Satyrium spini - Blue-spot Hairstreak Blue-spot Hairstreak Satyrium spini Lycaenidae
Satyrium esculi - False Ilex Hairstreak False Ilex Hairstreak Satyrium esculi Lycaenidae
Satyrium w-album, White Letter Hairstreak White Letter Hairstreak Satyrium w-album Lycaenidae
Thecla betulae, Brown Hairstreak Brown Hairstreak Thecla betulae Lycaenidae
Callophrys rubi, Green Hairstreak Green Hairstreak Callophrys rubi Lycaenidae
Purple Hairstreak Butterfly, Favonius quercus Purple Hairstreak Favonius quercus Lycaenidae
Provencal Hairstreak, Tomares ballus Provencal Hairstreak Tomares ballus Lycaenidae
Grizzled Skipper Butterfly, Pyrgus malvae Chequered Skipper Carterocephalus palaemon Hesperidae
False Mallow Skipper, Carcharodus tripolinus False Mallow Skipper Carcharodus tripolinus Hesperidae
Dingy Skipper Butterfly, Erryris tages Dingy Skipper Erynnis tages Hesperidae
Silver-spotted Skipper Hesperia comma Silver-spotted Skipper Hesperia comma Hesperidae
Large Chequered Skipper Butterfly, Heteropterus morpheus Large Chequered Skipper Heteropterus morpheus Hesperidae
Large Skipper Butterfly, Ochlodes sylvanus Large Skipper Ochlodes sylvanus Hesperidae
Grizzled Skipper Butterfly, Pyrgus malvae Grizzled Skipper Pyrgus malvae Hesperidae
Grizzled Skipper Butterfly, Pyrgus malvae Red Underwing Skipper Spialia sertorius Hesperidae
Lulworth Skipper Butterfly - Thymelicus acteon Lulworth Skipper Thymelicus acteon Hesperidae
Essex Skipper Butterfly - Thymelicus lineola Essex Skipper Thymelicus lineola Hesperidae
Small Skipper Butterfly - Thymelicus sylvestris Small Skipper Thymelicus sylvestris Hesperidae
Duke of Burgundy Fritillary, Hamearis lucina Duke of Burgundy Hamearis lucina Riodinidae

Moths

Pictures link to Details pages
Cistus Forester Moth Cistus Forester Adscita geryon Zygaenidae
Forester Moth - Adscita statices Forester Adscita statices Zygaenidae
Anacampsis blattariella Birch Sober Anacampsis blattariella Gelechiidae
Anthophila fabriciana Common Nettle-
tap Moth
Anthophila fabriciana Choreutidae
Argyresthia albistria Purple Argent Argyresthia albistria Argyresthiidae
Athrips mouffetella Honeysuckle Grey Athrips mouffetella Gelechiidae
Callimorpha dominula Scarlet Tiger Callimorpha dominula Arctiinae
Caloptilia alchimiella Oak Stilt Caloptilia alchimiella Gracillariidae
Calioptilia betulicola Red Birch Slender Caloptilia betulicola Gracillariidae
Calybites phasianipennella White-marked Stilt Calybites phasianipennella Gracillariidae
Carcina quercana Oak Longhorn Carcina quercana Depressariidae
Gorse Case-bearer Gorse Case-bearer Coleophora albicosta Coleophoridae
Pistol Case-bearer Pistol Case-bearer Coleophora anatipennella Coleophoridae
Coleophora follicularis Agrimony Case-bearer Coleophora follicularis Coleophoridae
Coleophora peribenanderi Thistle Case-bearer Coleophora peribenanderi Coleophoridae
The Goat Moth Goat Moth Cossus cossus Cossidae
Deilephila elpenor Elephant Hawk-moth Deilephila elpenor Sphingidae
Diurnea lipsiella Late Reveller Diurnea lipsiella Chimabachinae
Ethmia bipunctella Bugloss Ermine Ethmia bipunctella Depressariidae
Map-winged Swift moth Map-winged Swift Hepialus fusconebulosa Hepialidae
Common Swift Moth Common Swift Hepialus lupulinus Hepialidae
Gold Swift Moth Gold Swift Hepialus hecta Hepialidae
Orange Swift Moth Orange Swift Hepialus sylvina Hepialidae
Ghost Moth Ghost Moth
(Male)
Hepialus humuli Hepialidae
Ghost Moth Ghost Moth
(Female)
Hepialus humuli Hepialidae
Triangle Moth Triangle Heterogenea asella Limacodidae
Hypatima rhomboidella Black Rhomboid Grey Hypatima rhomboidella Gelechiidae
Metzneria lappella Burdock Seedhead
Moth
Metzneria lappella Gelechiidae
White-headed Monopis Moth Monk Moth Monopis monachella Tineidae
Nemphora degreerella Longhorn
Moth
Nemophora degeerella Adelidae
Reed Leopard Moth Reed Leopard
Moth
Phragmataecia castaneae Cossidae
Pleurota bicostella White Streak
Moth
Pleurota bicostella Oecophoridae
Semiscopis steinkellneriana Black-marked Diviner Semioscopis steinkellneriana Depressariidae
Tinea semifulvella Orange-tipped Nest
Moth
Tinea semifulvella Tineidae
Tinea trinotella Tripple-spotted Nest
Moth
Tinea trinotella Tineidae
Carpet Moth

Carpet Moth
(Tapestry Moth)

Trichophaga tapetzella Tineidae
Cinnabar Moth, Tyria jacobaea Cinnabar
Moth
Tyria jacobaea Erebidae
Leopard Moth Leopard
Moth
Zeuzera pyrina Cossidae
Zygaena purpuralis, Transparent Burnet Moth Six-spot
Burnet Moth
Zygaena filipendulae Zygaenidae
Zygaena lonicerae Narrow-bordered
Five-spot Burnet
Zygaena lonicerae Zygaenidae
Zygaena purpuralis, Transparent Burnet Moth Transparent
Burnet Moth
Zygaena purpuralis Zygaenidae
Five-spot Burnet Moth - Zygaena trifolii Five-spot
Burnet Moth
Zygaena trifolii Zygaenidae

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Studying butterflies and moths...

Life Cycle

Despite some obvious differences between many of the insects that we call butterflies and those that we call moths, there is no real scientific basis for separating the two groups, and lepidopterists (those who study this insect group) treat them as a single order.

Some obvious features of many of the butterflies are their bright colours and their habit of flying by day and resting with their wings closed vertically above their bodies. Most moths are dully coloured, nocturnal insects and hold their wings flat or in a ridge shape over their bodies when at rest. But there are exceptions to these convenient 'rules': burnet moths, for example, are very brightly coloured and they fly mainly during the day.

In Britain there are about 2500 species of butterflies and moths, with moths greatly outnumbering butterflies. Looking beyond the UK, across the world some 150,000 species of butterflies and moths have been identified, and no doubt there are many more still to be discovered.

The eggs are laid on the leaves of plants suited to the needs of the particular species. Some prefer nettles or docks; others may need specific flowers or the leaves of a particular tree. The larvae hatch after a few weeks and begin feeding.

After a few months the larva, or caterpillar, is fully grown and ready to pupate. It then turns into a chrysalis. It is in this state that many species spend the winter, although some hibernate as larvae and others do so as winged adults. The cycle begins again the following year with a new generation of butterflies and moths laying their eggs.

We photograph buterflies in the wild, without catching them and, if possible, without disturbing them from their normal patterns of behaviour. If you feel gthe need to capture specimens for close study, a large net is the best way to catch day-flying butterflies. They can then be studied and photographed before releasing them. In the early evening, moths can be caught in the same way, but once it gets dark this is not very practical. A lamp, preferably an ultra-violet one built in to a trap, does the job with the minimum of effort. We pack ours with pieces of egg boxes among which the moths soon settle down. On releasing moths from a trap it is important to disperse them; otherwise, the birds will have a feast and your location might be seriously depleted of some moth species.

Butterfly Information Sources

The pictures and text on the First Nature butterfly and moth pages are the results of our own observations, notes and photography in Britain and Ireland, on mainland Europe, in North America and South America, and to a limited extent also Asia. We have also learned much from the published research and Web resources produced by many other organisations and individual enthusiasts who have studied butterflies and moths, and we wish to acknowledge our reliance on such expertise.

Additional Butterfly Information on the Web

More specialist information on British, Irish, European mainland and American butterflies can be found on these superb websites:

UK Butterflies, by Peter Eeles

British Butterflies, by Stephen Cheshire

Learn About Butterflies, by Adrian Hoskins

UK Leps, by Reg Fry

Butterfly Conservation -

Butterfly Ireland - Dublin Naturalists' Field Club

Butterflies of Ireland

European Butterflies, by Matt Rowlings

European Butterfly Page, by Guy Padfield

Butterflies of France, by Roger Gibbons

Butterflies in Italy, by Robin Fox

Butterflies of Bulgaria, by Zdravko Kolev

California Butterfly Monitoring, by Dr Arthur (Art) Shapiro

Butterflies and Moths of North America - Butterfly and Moth Information Network

Butterflies of America, by Jonathan P. Pelham / Butterflies of America Foundation

Books and other Printed Resources

Asher. J., Warren, M., Fox, R., Harding, P., Jeffcoat, G., Jeffcoat, S.
(2001) The Millennium Atlas of Butterflies in Britain & Ireland, Oxford University Press, Oxford.

Carter, D.
(1982) Butterflies and Moths of Britain and Europe. Pan Books, London.

Easterbrook, M.
(1987) Butterflies of the British Isles: The Nymphalidae, Shire Natural History No 19, Aylesbury.

Easterbrook, M.
(1988) Butterflies of the British Isles: The Lycaenidae, Shire Natural History No 24, Aylesbury.

Easterbrook, M.
(1989) Butterflies of the British Isles: The Pieridae, Shire Natural History No 50, Aylesbury.

Fox, R., Asher. J., Brereton. T., Roy, D & Warren, M.
(2006) The State of Butterflies in Britain & Ireland, Pisces, Oxford.

Fox, R., Warren, M., Brereton, T. M., Roy, D. B. & Robinson, A.
(2010) A new Red List of British Butterflies. Insect Conservation and Diversity.

Fox, R., Warren, M & Brereton, T.
(2007) New Red List of British Butterflies. Butterfly Conservation, Wareham.

Harding, J. M.
(2008) Discovery Irish Butterflies & their Habitats.

Hofmann, H., Marktanner, T.
(2001) Butterflies and Moths of Britain & Europe. HarperCollins, London.

May, P. R.
(2003) Larval Foodplants of the Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland. The Amateur Entomologists' Society, Kent.

Moucha, J.
(1985) A Colour Guide to Familiar Butterflies Caterpillars and Chrysalides.
Newland, D. E.
(2006) Butterflies in Britain. Wild Guides, Hampshire.

Newman, L.H.
(1968) The Complete British Butterflies in Colour.

Porter, J.
(1997) The Colour Identification Guide to Caterpillars of the British Isles, Viking,
Harmondsworth.

Riley, A. M.
(2007) British and Irish Butterflies: the Complete Identification, Field and Site Guide to the Species, Subspecies and Forms, Brambleby Books, Luton. ISBN: 978-0-9553928-0-1

Sterry, P. Photographic Guide to the Butterflies of Britain and Europe
New Holland Publishers Ltd; 2nd Revised edition edition (1 May 2001) Language English ISBN-10: 1843302659 ISBN-13: 978-1859747308

Tolman, T., Lewington, R.
(1997) Butterflies of Britain & Europe. Harper Collins, London. ISBN-13: 978-0007242344

Britain's Butterflies: A Field Guide to the Butterflies of Britain and Ireland (Second edition, fully revised and updated) (Britain's Wildlife) [Illustrated] [Paperback] D. E. Newland D. E. Newland (Author) IISBN-13: 978-1903657300 Princeton University Press; Second edition (16 Aug 2010)

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