List of British butterflies

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is a list of British butterflies, past and present.

Note that details on specific species are relevant to the UK populations and some details may not be consistent with the species in other parts of its range.

Species listed in the 2007 UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) are indicated by a dagger symbol (†)—two species so listed for research purposes only are also indicated with an asterix (†*).

Contents

[edit] Hesperiidae – Skippers

Subfamily Heteropterinae

Subfamily Hesperiinae

Subfamily Pyrginae

[edit] Papilionidae – Swallowtails

Subfamily Papilioninae

[edit] Pieridae – Whites

Subfamily Dismorphiinae

Male Orange Tip
Male Orange Tip

Subfamily Coliadinae

Subfamily Pierinae

[edit] Lycaenidae – Blues, Coppers & Hairstreaks

Green Hairstreak
Green Hairstreak

Subfamily Theclinae

Subfamily Lycaena

Small Copper
Small Copper

Subfamily Polyommatinae

[edit] Riodinidae – Metalmarks

[edit] Nymphalidae – Fritillaries & others

Subfamily Limenitidinae

Purple Emperor
Purple Emperor

Subfamily Apaturinae

Subfamily Nymphalinae

Subfamily Argynninae

Heath Fritillary
Heath Fritillary

Subfamily Satyrinae

Ringlet
Ringlet

[edit] Vagrant, Extinct and Exotic Species

Large Tortoiseshell
Large Tortoiseshell

Extinct

  • Large Chequered SkipperHeteropterus morpheus (formerly introduced into Channel Islands)
  • Black-veined WhiteAporia crataegi
  • Mazarine BluePolyommatus (Cyaniris) semiargus (now vagrant only)
  • Large CopperLycaena dispar (British subspecies extinct; continental subspecies introduced now also extinct)
  • Large TortoiseshellNymphalis polychloros (now vagrant only, although sightings in southern England in 2007 suggest recolonisation may be occurring)

Vagrants

Queen of Spain Fritillary
Queen of Spain Fritillary

Exotics

Species included in the British lepidoptera numbering system, but believed never to have occurred naturally in a wild state

[edit] References

  • Butterfly Conservation, 2007. Priority butterfly species listed in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan 2007. Butterfly Conservation, Wareham, UK. 1p.
  • Emmet, A.M., J. Heath et al. (Ed.), 1990. The Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland. The Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland Vol. 7 Part 1 (Hesperiidae to Nymphalidae). Harley Books, Colechester, UK. 370p.
  • Tomlinson, D. and R. Still, 2002. Britain's Butterflies. WildGuides, Old Basing, UK. 192p.

[edit] See also