Suffolk's Butterflies
On this page - click on heading to go to
section
Flight Times of Butterflies
Dates of First Sightings
Foodplants of Butterflies
Recommended Books about Butterflies and
Moths
Butterfly Conservation is dedicated to
conserving both butterflies and moths. For information about the status
of moths in Suffolk, please visit the Suffolk Moths website. Click
here
to
visit
the
Suffolk Moths website
35 species of butterfly occur naturally in
Suffolk, including regular migrants and the newly-arrived Silver-washed
Fritillary.
Flight Times Of Suffolk Butterflies
Note: Flight periods based on results from transects & Suffolk
Butterfly records 2000 to 2023
Marbled White and
Chalkhill Blue are shown in italics as more information is
required to accurately determine their current Suffolk status.
The released Purple Emperor
flies at Theberton in July/August
To see where the butterflies can be seen
click here to look
at the Distribution Maps
First Sightings
-
as reported by email to
sightings@suffolkbutterflies.org.uk
(date in bold is
a new
date of earliest sighting. Date in
blue is latest date
first seen)
| Species Name |
Earliest Record |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
| Swallowtail |
28 May |
17 Jul |
17 Jul |
16 Aug |
6 Jun |
|
2 Jun |
25 Aug |
1 Aug |
|
19 Jul |
|
1 Aug |
24 Jun |
| Dingy Skipper |
25 Apr |
26 May |
9 May |
13 May |
7 May |
29 Apr |
6 May |
15 May |
7 May |
9 May |
30 Apr |
7 May |
8 May |
20 Apr |
| Essex Skipper |
29 May |
7 Jul |
23 Jun |
24 Jun |
27 Jun |
14 Jun |
20 Jun |
22 Jun |
15 Jun |
24 Jun |
15 Jun |
21 Jun |
24 Jun |
11 Jun |
| Small Skipper |
17 May |
30 Jun |
13 Jun |
20 Jun |
6 Jun |
24 May |
12 Jun |
14 Jun |
31 May |
26 Jun |
7 Jun |
18 Jun |
17 Jun |
20 May |
| Large Skipper |
21 May |
25 Jun |
25 May |
1 Jun |
7 Jun |
25 May |
27 May |
7 Jun |
25 May |
12 Jun |
24 May |
12 Jun |
24 May |
21 May |
| Orange Tip |
23 Mar |
21 Apr |
19 Mar |
7 Apr |
8 Apr |
15 Mar |
14 Apr |
24 Mar |
24 Mar |
30 Mar |
14 Mar |
31 Mar |
18 Mar |
29 Mar |
| Large White |
18 Mar |
2 May |
12 Mar |
5 Apr |
2 Apr |
28 Mar |
5 Apr |
24 Feb |
31 Jan |
30 Mar |
10 Mar |
15 Apr |
20 Mar |
31 Mar |
| Small White |
21 Feb |
20 Apr |
9 Mar |
5 Mar |
17 Mar |
29 Mar |
7 Apr |
24 Feb |
12 Mar |
25 Mar |
7 Mar |
4 Apr |
18 Mar |
19 Mar |
| Green-veined White |
11 Mar |
20 Apr |
15 Mar |
7 Apr |
13 Apr |
15 Mar |
21 Mar |
21 Mar |
4 Apr |
4 Apr |
24 Mar |
15 Apr |
4 Mar |
20 Mar |
| Clouded Yellow |
23 Apr |
23 Jun |
7 Jun |
17 May |
2 Jul |
1 Jun |
16 Apr |
3 Jun |
31 May |
17 Jul |
30 Apr |
23 Jul |
12 Aug |
15 Jun |
| Brimstone |
7 Jan |
19 Feb |
2 Jan |
6 Mar |
7 Feb |
20 Feb |
14 Mar |
13 Feb |
8 Mar |
20 Feb |
1 Jan |
2 Jan |
16 Jan |
30 Jan |
| Wall Brown |
1 Apr |
27 May |
9 May |
15 May |
15 May |
30 Apr |
10 May |
12 May |
29 Apr |
24 May |
3 May |
1 May |
5 May |
28 Apr |
| Speckled Wood |
26 Mar |
21 Apr |
29 Mar |
10 Mar |
2 Apr |
26 Mar |
18 Apr |
29 Mar |
23 Mar |
17 Apr |
22 Mar |
11 Apr |
1 Apr |
3 Apr |
| Small Heath |
24 Apr |
16 May |
4 May |
4 May |
12 May |
28 Apr |
5 May |
26 Apr |
2 May |
10 May |
28 Apr |
7 May |
2 May |
20 Apr |
| Ringlet |
3 Jun |
5 Jul |
10 Jun |
11 Jun |
21 Jun |
11 Jun |
13 Jun |
22 Jun |
13 Jun |
24 Jun |
1 Jun |
21 Jun |
17 Jun |
7 Jun |
| Meadow Brown |
5 May |
25 Jun |
3 Jun |
11 Jun |
10 Jun |
21 May |
3 Jun |
1 Jun |
25 May |
12 Jun |
28 May |
11 Jun |
27 May |
11 May |
| Gatekeeper |
10 Jun |
11 Jul |
30 Jun |
18 Jun |
6 Jul |
14 Jun |
22 Jun |
16 Jun |
21 Jun |
2 Jul |
27 Jun |
28 Jun |
17 Jun |
10 Jun |
| Marbled White |
7 Jun |
10 Jul |
2 Jul |
26 Jun |
27 Jun |
15 Jun |
17 Jun |
22 Jun |
15 Jun |
23 Jun |
17 Jun |
21 Jun |
18 Jun |
8 Jun |
| Grayling |
21 Jun |
17 Jul |
25 Jun |
3 Jul |
6 Jul |
26 Jun |
25 Jun |
5 Jul |
7 Jul |
11 Jul |
30 Jun |
2 Jul |
30 Jun |
23 Jun |
| Small Pearl-bordered
Fritillary |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
18 Jul |
|
|
|
| Queen of Spain
Fritillary |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9 Aug |
16 Jul |
30 Jul |
|
| Silver-washed Fritillary |
20 Jun |
8 Jul |
17 Jun |
29 Jun |
24 Jun |
13 Jun |
18 Jun |
21 Jun |
14 Jun |
25 Jun |
15 Jun |
21 Jun |
25 Jun |
11 Jun |
| Dark Green Fritillary |
|
|
|
|
|
|
23 Jun |
29 Jun |
14 Jun |
9 Jul |
21 Jun |
|
|
|
| White Admiral |
7 Jun |
5 Jul |
6 Jun |
29 Jun |
26 Jun |
14 Jun |
11 Jun |
27 Jun |
15 Jun |
1 Jul |
15 Jun |
23 Jun |
17 Jun |
15 Jun |
| Purple Emperor |
30 Jun |
13 Jul |
23 Jun |
7 Jul |
15 Jul |
23 Jun |
24 Jun |
2 Jul |
20 Jun |
6 Jul |
20 Jun |
24 Jun |
27 Jun |
19 Jun |
| Red Admiral |
1 Jan |
9 Jan |
13 Jan |
2 Jan |
23 Jan |
8 Jan |
18 Jan |
8 Jan |
9 Jan |
22 Jan |
1 Jan |
11 Jan |
4 Jan |
25 Jan |
| Painted Lady |
20 Feb |
26 May |
1 Apr |
15 Apr |
9 May |
2 Apr |
21 Apr |
18 Mar |
10 Apr |
20 Apr |
23 Mar |
29 Apr |
13 Apr |
18 Apr |
| Peacock |
1 Jan |
4 Feb |
2 Jan |
15 Feb |
25 Jan |
24 Jan |
12 Jan |
14 Feb |
8 Jan |
11 Jan |
1 Jan |
11 Jan |
3 Jan |
2 Mar |
| Small Tortoiseshell |
1 Jan |
5 Mar |
16 Feb |
27 Jan |
25 Feb |
17 Feb |
16 Feb |
3 Feb |
8 Mar |
22 Jan |
12 Jan |
10 Jan |
28 Jan |
22 Feb |
| Camberwell Beauty |
|
|
|
|
5 Oct |
12 Oct |
5 May |
|
|
30 Aug |
1 Sep |
5 Apr |
|
|
| Large Tortoishell |
|
|
10 Mar |
|
5 May |
|
4 Jul |
23 Apr |
17 Mar |
1 Apr |
|
9 Apr |
|
20 May |
| Scarce Tortoiseshell |
|
|
27 Mar |
15 Apr |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Comma |
15 Jan |
5 Mar |
2 Mar |
13 Feb |
24 Feb |
20 Feb |
14 Mar |
24 Feb |
1 Mar |
2 Feb |
27 Jan |
30 Mar |
9 Mar |
4 Mar |
| Marsh Fritillary |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5 Jun |
27 May |
16 May |
12 May |
28 Apr |
| Small Copper |
20 Mar |
1 May |
5 Apr |
7 Apr |
28 Apr |
25 Mar |
18 Apr |
10 Apr |
8 Apr |
29 Mar |
15 Apr |
29 Apr |
14 Apr |
29 Mar |
| Brown Hairstreak |
|
|
|
9 Sep |
8 Aug |
5 Aug |
2 Aug |
2 Aug |
28 Jul |
13 Aug |
22 Jul |
26 Jul |
2 Aug |
|
| Purple Hairstreak |
3 Jun |
5 Jul |
15 Jun |
25 Jun |
1 Jul |
14 Jun |
16 Jun |
22 Jun |
9 Jun |
2 Jul |
21 Jun |
27 Jun |
19 Jun |
10 Jun |
| Green Hairstreak |
9 Apr |
3 May |
20 Apr |
15 Apr |
20 Apr |
21 Apr |
22 Apr |
15 Apr |
7 Apr |
18 Apr |
11 Apr |
16 Apr |
8 Apr |
17 Apr |
| White-letter Hairstreak |
2 Jun |
6 Jul |
26 Jun |
30 Jun |
2 Jul |
13 Jun |
22 Jun |
17 Jun |
16 Jun |
23 Jun |
19 Jun |
21 Jun |
19 Jun |
12 Jun |
| Long-tailed Blue |
|
15 Aug |
|
9 Aug |
23 Aug |
9 Jul |
18 Oct |
24 Aug |
4 Sep |
|
29 Oct |
20 Aug |
|
|
| Small Blue |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15 Jun |
21 May |
27 May |
14 May |
24 May |
6 Jun |
10 Jun |
| Holly Blue |
18 Mar |
23 Apr |
30 Mar |
7 Apr |
2 Apr |
15 Mar |
18 Apr |
26 Feb |
22 Mar |
30 Mar |
18 Jan |
7 Apr |
16 Mar |
24 Mar |
| Silver-studded Blue |
30 May |
21 Jun |
7 Jun |
9 Jun |
15 Jun |
1 Jun |
6 Jun |
9 Jun |
30 May |
14 Jun |
2 Jun |
10 Jun |
3 Jun |
23 May |
| Brown Argus |
23 Apr |
27 May |
16 May |
8 May |
17 May |
7 May |
17 May |
26 Apr |
1 May |
9 May |
30 Apr |
7 May |
8 May |
23 Apr |
| Common Blue |
7 Apr |
26 May |
15 May |
11 May |
3 May |
12 May |
15 May |
15 May |
2 May |
7 May |
6 May |
19 May |
10 May |
20 Apr |
| Chalkhill Blue |
31 Jul |
12 Aug |
15 Jul |
20 Jul |
20 Jul |
20 Aug |
|
1 Aug |
22 Jul |
21 Jul |
14 Jul |
|
|
10 Jul |
Suffolk's Butterflies,
their BAP* status and larval foodplants
| Species Name |
Scientific Name |
UK BAP* Status |
Suffolk Status |
Larval Foodplant |
| Swallowtail |
Papilio machaon
|
Not listed |
Occasional visitor or migrant,
from Norfolk (sp britannicus) or the continent (sp gorganus)
|
Norfolk - Milk Parsley
Continental - Wild Carrot |
| Dingy Skipper |
Erynnis tages |
Priority Species |
Very rare resident, can
be seen in the King's Forest.
Suffolk BAP species |
Bird’s-foot trefoil |
| Essex Skipper |
Thymelicus lineola |
Not listed |
Common Resident |
Cock’s Foot and Creeping Soft grass |
| Small Skipper |
Thymelicus sylvestris |
Not listed |
Common Resident |
Yorkshire Fog, Creeping Soft and False brome grasses |
| Large Skipper |
Ochlodes venata |
Not listed |
Common resident |
Cock’s Foot grass and some other grasses |
| Orange Tip |
Anthocharis cardamines |
Not listed |
Common resident |
Cuckoo Flower, Garlic Mustard, Hedge Mustard |
| Large White |
Pieris brassicae |
Not listed |
Common resident |
Crucifers. Cultivated or wild
brassicas |
| Small White |
Pieris rapae |
Not listed |
Common resident |
Crucifers. Cultivated or wild
brassicas |
| Green-veined White |
Pieris napi |
Not listed |
Common resident |
Cuckoo Flower, Garlic Mustard, Hedge Mustard |
| Clouded Yellow |
Colias croceus |
Not listed |
Rare migrant |
Clover, Lucerne and Bird’s-foot Trefoil |
| Brimstone |
Gonepteryx rhamni |
Not listed |
Common resident |
Buckthorn and Alder Buckthorn |
| Wall Brown |
Lasiommata
megera |
Priority species |
Declining resident, now
rare. Can
be seen at SWT Carlton Marshes |
Grasses inc Cock’s Foot |
| Speckled Wood |
Pararge
aegeria |
Not listed |
Increasingly common resident |
Many grasses inc False Brome, Cock’s Foot and Yorkshire Fog |
| Small Heath |
Coenonympha
pamphilus |
Priority species |
Resident, mostly in the Sandlings and Brecks.
Suffolk BAP species |
Narrow blade grasses inc fescues and bents |
| Ringlet |
Aphantopus
hyperantus |
Not listed |
Common resident |
Tufted Hair-grass and many other grasses |
| Meadow Brown |
Maniola
jurtina |
Not listed |
Common resident |
Narrow blade meadow grasses inc fescues and bents |
| Gatekeeper |
Pyronia
tithonus |
Not listed |
Common resident |
Narrow blade grasses inc fescues and bents |
| Marbled White |
Melanargia galathea |
Not listed |
Small colony introduced
(unofficially) in Landseer Park but seems to be stable. A few
spreading into W Suffolk |
Cock's-foot (Dactylis
glomerata), Red
Fescue (Festuca rubra), Sheep's-fescue
(Festuca ovina), Timothy
(Phleum pratense), Tor-grass
(Brachypodium rupestre) and Yorkshire-fog
(Holcus lanatus). |
| Grayling |
Hipparchia
semele |
Priority species
|
Resident, confined to the
Sandlings and Brecks, Suffolk BAP species
|
Fine grasses on sandy soil |
| Silver-washed Fritillary |
Argynnis paphia |
Not listed |
Recent resident (2010) but
can be seen in several woods e.g. Bradfield, Wolves and Bonny
Woods. |
Commmon Dog Violet |
| Dark-green Fritillary |
Speyeria aglaja |
Not listed |
A few sightings of
uncertain source. Present on N Norfolk coast. |
Common Dog-violet (Viola riviniana), Hairy Violet (Viola
hirta) and Marsh Violet (Viola palustris). |
| White Admiral |
Limenitis
camilla |
Priority species
|
Scarce resident. Has increased in numbers recently. Suffolk BAP
species
|
Honeysuckle |
| Purple Emperor |
Apatura Iris |
Not listed |
Recent scarce resident
but can be seen in several woods e.g. Bradfield and Bonny Woods.
Introduced population in Theberton Woods |
Sallow, Goat Willow |
| Red Admiral |
Vanessa
atalanta |
Not listed |
Common resident and migrant |
Common Stinging Nettle and Small Nettle |
| Painted Lady |
Vanessa
cardui |
Not listed |
Common migrant |
Spear Thistle, Marsh Thistle, Creeping Thistle and Stinging Nettle |
| Peacock |
Aglais
io |
Not listed |
Common resident |
Stinging Nettle |
| Small Tortoiseshell |
Aglais
urticae |
Not listed |
Increasingly uncommon resident and migrant |
Stinging Nettle and Small Nettle |
| Large Tortoiseshell |
Nymphalis polychloros |
Not listed |
Very rare migrant but
seen in most years. Now breeding in Dorset and probably
Norfolk. |
Elms (Ulmus spp.). Aspen (Populus tremula), poplars (Populus
spp.), sallows (Salix spp.) and willows (Salix spp.) are also used. |
| Scarce Tortoiseshell |
Nymphalis xanthomelas |
Not listed |
Very rare migrant |
sallows (Salix spp.) |
| Comma |
Polygonia
c-album |
Not listed |
Resident |
Stinging Nettle, occasioinally Hop, Currant, Elm or Sallow |
| Marsh Fritillary |
Euphydryas aurinia |
Priority species |
One sighting, an
unofficial release |
Devil's-bit Scabious (Succisa pratensis). |
| Small Copper |
Lycaena
phlaeas |
Not listed |
Resident, most numerous in the
Sandlings and Brecks |
Common and Sheep’s Sorrel and Dock spp |
| Brown Hairstreak |
Thecla betulae |
Priority Species |
Small colonies introduced
(unofficially) in Belstead Brook Park and Pipers Vale. |
The primary larval foodplant is Blackthorn (Prunus
spinosa). cherries (Prunus spp.) also used |
| Purple Hairstreak |
Favonius quercus |
Not listed |
Resident |
Most oaks |
| Green Hairstreak |
Callophrys rubi |
Not listed |
Resident |
Gorse, Broom, Rockrose,
Bird's Foot Trefoil |
| White-letter Hairstreak |
Satyrium w-album |
Priority Species |
Resident,
Suffolk BAP
species |
Elm |
| Long-tailed Blue |
Lampides boeticus |
Not listed |
Rare migrant |
Bladder-senna (Colutea arborescens), Broad-leaved Everlasting-pea
(Lathyrus latifolius) and Broom (Cytisus scoparius). |
| Small Blue |
Cupido minimus |
Priority species |
Small colony introduced
(unofficially) in Landseer Park |
Kidney Vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria). |
| Holly Blue |
Celastrina
argiolus |
Not listed |
Common resident |
Holly (spring), Ivy (autumn).
Also other shrubs |
| Silver-studded Blue |
Plebejus
argus |
Priority Species |
Rare resident most
numerous in the Sandlings, also Purdis Heath.
Suffolk BAP species |
Heather, Bell Heather,
Rock-rose, Bird's Foot Trefoil |
| Brown Argus |
Aricia
agestis |
Not listed |
Common resident |
Common Stork’s-bill, Dove’s-foot Cranesbill and Rock-rose |
| Common Blue |
Polyommatus
icarus |
Not listed |
Common resident |
Bird’s-foot Trefoil, other trefoils |
| Chalkhill Blue |
Polyommatus coridon |
Not listed |
Present on Devil's Dyke
which is not in Suffolk vice-county. Present on a private site in W
Suffolk |
Horseshoe Vetch (Hippocrepis comosa). |
| Species
Name |
Scientific
Name |
UK
BAP Status |
Suffolk
Status
|
|
* BAP = Biodiversity Action Plan.
Click here for more
information about the National BAP
Click here
for information about the Suffolk BAP
Recommended Books on Butterflies and Moths
The following are
recommended for identification and reference. Most are stocked by
Suffolk Public Libraries. Look at them there before buying
British
Butterflies
(in ascending cost; retail price quoted – many are cheaper from
booksellers websites)
Butterfly Identification Guide
(folding plastic) by the Field Studies Council. £3 from
Suffolk Wildlife Trust.
The Butterflies
of Suffolk , 1986, by Howard Mendel & Steve Piotrowski. Published by
Suffolk Naturalists' Society. £5 from SNS [You can order from the
Museum by phone, 01473 433547].
The Millennium Atlas of Suffolk Butterflies, 2001, by Richard
Stewart. Published by Suffolk Naturalists'Society. £5 from SNS [You
can order from the Museum by phone, 01473 433547].
Pocket Guide to the Butterflies
of Great Britain, Second Edition, 2015, by Richard Lewington. British Wildlife
Publishing. £10.
Britain's Butterflies,
Third Edition 2015 , by David Newland, David Tomlinson & Rob
Still. Wild Guides. £12.50.
Discovering Butterflies in Britain by Prof David Newland 2006
WildGuides. Where to find
particular species. (ISBN 10903657-121-1 - £16.63.
The Butterflies of Britain & Ireland,
Edition 3, 2014, by Jeremy Thomas & Richard Lewington. British
Wildlife Publishing. Excellent detail. £29 hardback/ £16.65
Paperback
Butterflies of Britain and
Ireland: A Field and Site Guide (Paperback), 2011,
Michael Easterbrook (recorder for
Kent Butterfly Conservation). As well as details and photos of
all species there are notes on the history of each butterfly in the
UK, maps showing current and historic distribution and a site guide.
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC, ISBN: 9781408127704 £29.99
The Millennium Atlas of Butterflies in Britain and Ireland, 2000,
Asher et al. Oxford University Press. £30.
A Butterfly Notebook, 2003, Douglas Hammersley, The Book Guild.
£25
or less for paperback. This is not a comprehensive field
guide, but a wonderful collection of large scale illustrations by a
local artist, accompanied by informative anecdotes about each
species.
The Butterfly Isles: A
Summer In Search Of Our Emperors And Admirals, 2011.
Patrick Barkham ISBN: 9781847083159 £10 paperback
One man's year-long hunt for all 59 species of British
butterfly, is a beguiling piece of amateur nature writing.
From the Adonis Blue to the Dingy Skipper, the author stops at
nothing in his obsessive and engaging attempts to uncover each of
these wonderfully ethereal creatures. Astonishingly detailed in its
description of the natural world, this bewitching story is packed
with family anecdotes and the genial humour of a patient man and a
true fanatic.
British Moths
Comprehensive volumes are pricey. Order these from the
library, and decide how serious you are
Colour Identification Guide to
the Moths of the British Isles -
Skinner, 2009 This edition is a major update of his standard
work. Apollo Books. £48. Provides pictures of set specimens of
all the British macro moths, showing the range of variation and
geographic forms.
Field Guide to
the Moths of Great Britain & Ireland by Paul Waring & Martin
Townsend with illustrations by Richard Lewington, 2003. £29.95.
Something of a breakthrough because it illustrates them wings
folded, as well as set.
Concise Guide to the Moths of Great Britain & Ireland by Paul Waring
& Martin Townsend with illustrations by Richard Lewington, 2007.
£12.95.
A simplified version of the 2003 Field Guide above. Features the
same illustrations in a ring binder facing an abbreviated text on
each species. Excellent for use in the field, and good value.
British Moths and butterflies – a
photographic guide Manley, 2008
A & C Black. An excellent compilation of photographs of micromoths,
butterflies and all our macro moths, with good pictures of
caterpillars too. A massive amount of information squeezed into a
350 page softback. £21.
Enjoying Moths Leverton, Roy, 2001 Poyser Natural History - this
is a super book, inspirational and readable, though not a
comprehensive identification guide. About
£27
from Amazon.
Britain's Day-flying Moths. Newland, Still & Swash, 2013. Wild
Guides.
£18
–
or less from Amazon.
Butterfly Gardening & Specialist
Gardening for Butterflies, Bees and other beneficial insects, 2010
by Jan Miller £18 from
www.7wells.co.uk
[Use code: “BUTTERFLY”]
Breeding the British Butterflies by P. W. Cribb £4 from AES
Publications Tel:01277 224610.
The Amateur Entomologists’ Society have a wide range of other
publications, indexed on their website:
www.amentsoc.org
European
Butterflies
Collins
Field Guide to the Butterflies of Britain & Europe by Tolman &
Lewington, Collins. 2008 edition £19.50 or earlier editions
secondhand around £15.
Butterflies
of Europe by Tristan Lafranchis, 2004 Paris; Diatheo, £38 softback
with a DVD or £33.50 for the book alone. With a unique key to the
identification of 440 species supported by close-up photography.
Stockists for specialist entomological books (new and secondhand):
Ian Johnson, Pemberley Books -
www.pemberleybooks.com
David Dunbar, Aurelian Books -
dgldunbar@aol.com <mailto:dgldunbar@aol.com
Atropos Books - books@atropos.info
- 01797 367866.
Abe Books - a good source for second-hand books. This is
a marketplace for local bookshops.
www.abebooks.co.uk
Butterfly Conservation no longer sell books (with the exception of
their own publications).
