Butterflies Flutter By

With the coming of the summer sun, alongside many new birds, we are also seeing an explosion of insect activity. Previously we've looked at bees, so in this article, I want to take a look at perhaps the most beloved of all insects, the Butterflies. 

Butterflies are the most extensively studied of all the insects, which is hardly surprising considering their great variety and beauty. They are primarily classified by the possession of tiny scales on their wings and body (results in the spectacular patterns we see) and a long proboscis. This general family (Lepidoptera) includes moths (who in fact make up the majority) and can be further split into 22 subfamilies. Within the UK we have approximately 59 regular species, of which Dumfries and Galloway have had records of 32 species. 

Red Admiral (left) and a Small Tortoiseshell

Many of our regular butterfly species belong to the family Nymphalidae, one of the largest subfamilies of butterfly with over 3000 different species worldwide. Also known as brush-footed butterflies due to their short and furry front legs, this family includes the Tortoiseshells, Admirals and Fritillaries. Perhaps the best known all of these is the Red Admiral, named for its orange-red bands that contrast noticeably with its otherwise dark wings. They can be found in almost any flowery habitat (including gardens) and are seen flying from May to October. Small Tortoiseshells are one of the commonest garden butterflies and can be out as early as March. The list of Fritillaries is extensive, however, most of these are found in continental Europe. We do get a couple up here though, including the Dark-green and Pearl-bordered Fritillaries. Not all species in this family can be so clearly categorized, and so there are also plenty of outlier species. These are perhaps the most beautiful and distinctive species that we get, Peacocks and Painted Ladies. These are easily recognized by their unique and unmistakable patterns, and can be seen flying from May - Sept and April - October (Peacock and Painted Lady respectively). 

Peacock (left) and Painted Lady

Very closely related the Nymphalidae is the family Satyridae, or the Browns. As the name suggests, this includes species such as Wall and Meadow Browns, both of which are pretty common in our local area. They prefer more grassy habitats and some times areas with bare ground. This is reflected in their names, as meadows are ideal habitats, whilst Walls will often settle on their namesake. Another species we get are the Graylings, though these can be a bit harder to find. Preferring heaths and rough grassland, we most commonly see them along rocky grassy areas along the coast. With their grey/brown colouring this can make them very hard to pick out from the rocks they rest upon. They do spend a lot of time resting on the ground, though never have their wings open whilst doing so, a trait that can make them easier to identify. 

Green-veined White Butterfly

The last family from which we get most of our butterflies from is the Pieridae, the Whites and Yellows, which sporting these colours are pretty easy to pick out. The most common of these is the Green-veined White, who can be found in a variety of habitats for hedgerows to woodlands and meadows. Sharing these habitats is the Orange-Tip, which is readily distinguished with its contrasting orange and white colours. The last of this family, the Clouded Yellow, actually migrate over here from continental Europe. As such their numbers can vary and since they're not annual we don't always get them, however keep an eye out as they fly from late summer till October. 

Hopefully this has given you a good idea of what to look out for, but it is by no means an absolute list. This is even half the total species recorded in Dumfries and Galloway, and depending on the habitats in your local area you may well see entirely different species to us here on the Wig. That's the good thing about butterflies though, whether in the woods, fields or even your own garden, you've always got a good chance of seeing one. So on those sunny days be sure to keep an eye out for these beautiful insects, you never know what you might stumble across.

[All photographs were taken by and belong to Stephen Grover, please ask for permission if you wish to use them.]