| Gallery: Garden butterflies |  |
Few animals are as emblematic to the wildlife garden as butterflies and its easy to see why.
Pictures
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This shot of the underside of the orange-tip's (Anthocharis cardamines) wings show the distinct green-mottled pattern common to both males and females. This butterfly is a male as indicated by the orange tips to the upperside of the wings which can here be clearly seen through the wing.
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This shot of the underside of the green-veined white's (Pieris napi) wings shows where the butterfly gets its name. These patterns are diagnostic of this butterfly. The underside of the orange-tip's (Anthocharis cardamines) wings are green-mottled by contrast. The butterfly is feeding on cuckoo flower (Cardamine pratensis).
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This female green-veined white (Pieris napi) is more heavily marked than the male. It is feeding on dandelion (Taraxacum officinale).
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Green-veined white (Pieris napi) feeding on garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata).
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The upperside of the green-veined white's (Pieris napi) wings are superficially similar to other white butterflies, but with practice they can be easily told apart.
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A riot of colour here with this small tortoiseshell (Aglais uritcae) on corn-cockle (Agrostemma githago) with corn marigold (Chrysanthemum segetum) and corn poppy (Papaver rhoeas) visible in the background.
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Small tortoiseshell (Aglais uritcae) on corn-cockle (Agrostemma githago).
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This image shows underside of a tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) butterfly's wing. When at rest, for example during hibernation, the under-wing serves to camouflage the insect. The butterfly is pictured on Verbena bonariensis. | | Click to enlarge | |
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The speckled wood (Pararge aegeria) is a familiar butterfly of hedgerows and woodland rides but is becoming increasingly common in gardens. The butterfly is pictured on garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata).
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The small skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris) is really a butterfly of grassy places but may be seen in gardens where these areas are found close by. This butterfly can be distinguished from the very similar Essex skipper (Thymelius lineola) by the orange underside of the antennae ends: in the Essex skipper these are black. The butterfly in this picture is on Buddleja davidii.
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The only widespread golden skipper with mottled wings. This large skipper (Ochlodes venata) can be identified as a male from the black line (sex brand) on the forewings. Although more commonly a butterfly of rough grassy places, it can occasionally be seen in gardens. This one is pictured on a hardy geranium.
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The markings of upper wings of the red admiral (Vanessa atalanta) are very bold, but the under wings show a much more subtle beauty.
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This peacock (Inachis io) has emerged from its long winter hibernation and is soaking up the warm rays of Spring sunshine.
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This peacock (Inachis io) has spent the winter months hibernating as an adult and now, on the first really warm day of Spring, it looks for a meal on this crocus to replenish some spent energy.
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The painted lady (Cynthia cardui) is a migratory butterfly. It came to the shores of the UK in unusually high numbers during the summer of 2003. Here you can see part of the subtle and beautiful patterns and colouring of the underwing. The butterfly is pictured on Buddleja davidii.
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The comma (Polygonia c-album) had virtually disappeared from Britain at around the beginning of the 20th century. Happily today, it is a different story; this distinctive butterfly is now commonly seen in our gardens. The butterfly in this picture is on Buddleja davidii.
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The charmingly named gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus) is almost always associated with areas of shrubs and long grass typified by country hedgerows; but if you live close to such places you might be lucky enough to see them in your garden. They have a strong southern distribution in Britain and you are much less likely so see them the further north you travel. The one in this picture is a male, readily identified from the dark 'sex brand' on the forewing.
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The small copper (Lycaena phalaeas) is a species of rough grasslands which may nevertheless be seen in gardens found in proximity to such places. The butterfly in this picture is on meadow buttercup (Rannunculus acris).
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This female (second brood) holly blue (Celastrina argiolus) is distinguished by the black margins on the upperwing. The butterfly is pictured on Ivy (Hedera helix) on which the female will lay its eggs.
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The total absence of any orange markings on the underside of the wings distinguish the holly blue (Celastrina argiolus) from almost all other blues: only the scarce (and much smaller) small blue (Cupido minimus) shares this feature. The butterfly is pictured on Ivy (Hedera helix).
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The common blue (Polyommatus icarus) is a beautiful and, mercifully, still relatively common meadow butterfly. The butterfly in this picture is on a daisy (Bellis perennis).
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