We have a large variety of butterflies visiting our garden regularly. The list below shows all the species we have recorded to date together with their status.
For first and last dates, go to Butterflies>Dates.
Click on the image to view a larger image and go to the
Butterflies slideshow to view all the images.
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Family Hesperiidae >> Hesperiinae |
Small Skipper
1526
(Thymelicus sylvestris)
Garden status: annually but in small numbers |
No change in numbers during the last three years.
Only recorded on a few days and numbers never exceeding two. |
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Large Skipper
1531
(Ochlodes faunus)
Garden status: annually but in small numbers
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No change in numbers during the last three years.
Only recorded on a few days and numbers never exceeding three. |
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Family Hesperiidae >> Pyrginae |
Dingy Skipper
1532
(Erynnis tages)
Garden status: one record |
The only garden record of this butterfly seen annually elsewhere in the valley was
14 June 2010. |
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Family Pieridae >> Coliadinae |
Clouded Yellow
1545
(Colias croceus)
Garden status: migrant - not seen every year |
The only record of this migrant butterfly was 1 August 2009. |
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Brimstone
1546
(Gonepteryx rhamni)
Garden status: annually but in small numbers
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Numbers for 2009 were better than the previous two years with regular sightings
during the flight period from April to
October. |
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Family Pieridae >> Pierinae |
Large White
1549
(Pieris brassicae)
Garden status - common
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This is the most common white butterfly. |
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Small White
1550
(Pieris rapae)
Garden status: common
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Regularly seen but only in small numbers. |
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Green-veined White
1551
(Pieris napi)
Garden status: common
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Regularly seen. |
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Orange-tip
1553
(Anthocharis cardamines)
Garden status: common
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Regularly seen with numbers increasing annually since 2007. |
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Family Lycaenidae >> Theclinae |
Purple Hairstreak
1557
(Neozephyrus quercus)
Garden status: not seen every year |
Seen in numbers on 24 August 2007 flying in the sunlight at the top of an oak tree.
Not recorded in 2008 and 2009 but neither was the sun! |
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Family Lycaenidae >> Lycaeninae |
Small Copper
1561
(Lycaena phlaeas)
Garden status: annually but in small numbers |
Never seen in numbers but more frequently seen 2009. |
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Family Lycaenidae >> Polyommatinae |
Common Blue
1574
(Polyommatus icarus)
Garden status: annually but in small numbers |
2009 was a better year with a particularly strong second generation in late August
and early September. Even so numbers rarely exceeded four. |
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Holly Blue
1580
(Celastrina argiolus)
Garden status: common
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Numbers in 2009 were well down on the previous two years. |
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Family Nymphalidae >> Nymphalinae |
Red Admiral
1590
(Vanessa atalanta)
Garden status: common
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As in 2008, the main influx of migrants in 2009 was in the autumn with regular counts in double
figures. |
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Painted Lady
1591
(Vanessa cardui)
Garden status: annually in variable numbers |
After just 2 records in the preceding two years, 2009 was an extraordinary year
for this migratory species. The main influx occurred on 11 May, with numbers peaking on 30 May when, during a 30 minute count, 250 were recorded flying south
across the garden. Throughout the summer good numbers were recorded with larvae
found on 12 July. |
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Small Tortoiseshell
1593
(Aglais urticae)
Garden status: annually but in small numbers |
Very few records of this rapidly declining species. Recorded most frequently
in the the autumn, particlarly in 2008 and 2009, possibly as a result of the arrival
of continental migrants. |
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Peacock
1597
(Inachis io)
Garden status: common |
Regularly recorded in low numbers, particularly in early spring and late autumn.
Numbers appear to have been fairly static over the last three years. |
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Comma
1598
(Polygonia c-album)
Garden status: common
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Seen regularly during an extended flight period from early spring to late
autumn.
In August 2009 a rare form, ab. dilutus, visited the garden
- see record. The exact
status of this aberration is uncertain. However, it seems likely it is a first
record for Cornwall and possibly for Devon. |
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Family Nymphalidae >> Argynninae |
Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary
1600
(Boloria selene)
Garden status: common
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Counts in excess
of 30 each May with small numbers of the second generation appearing
in late July. |
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Pearl-bordered Fritillary
1601
(Boloria euphrosyne)
Garden status: not seen every year |
Two records (24 April 2007 and 28 April 2009).
It is common in other parts of the valley.
The Devon Wildlife Trust successfully manage large areas of the Marsland reserve
to conserve this species -
see DWT reports. |
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Silver-washed Fritillary
1606
(Argynnis paphia)
Garden status: common
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The most abundant butterfly in the months of July and August. Peak counts
of 30 in the last three years although overall numbers are down on 2007. |
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Family Satyridae >> Satyrinae |
Speckled Wood
1614
(Pararge aegeria)
Garden status: common
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Never recorded in numbers but seen regularly.
More frequently sighted in 2009
than the previous two years. |
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Wall Brown
1615
(Lasiommata megera)
Garden status: not seen every year |
Three records in 2008. |
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Marbled White
1620
(Melanargia galathea)
Garden status: not seen every year |
Only one record (20 June 2009). |
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Gatekeeper
1625
(Pyronia tithonus)
Garden status: common |
Seen in numbers, particularly on blackberry flowers. |
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Meadow Brown
1626
(Maniola jurtina)
Garden status: common
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Regularly seen, sometimes in numbers.
Not as abundant in 2009 as in 2008. |
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Small Heath
1627
(Coenonympha pamphilus)
Garden status: not seen every year
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Only one record (28 August 2008). |
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Ringlet
1629
(Aphantopus hyperantus)
Garden status: common
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Regularly seen, sometimes in numbers.
Not as abundant in 2009 as in 2008. |
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