Butterflies 2002

Butterflies 2002

This is the overall list for spring and summer 2002, grouped according to family and genus. It was compiled mainly by John Madden. He made these observations from a fixed route through LWA and Centenary Fields. Called a 'transect', this route goes through or by all the main habitats on the two reserves except the pond.

There are only 56 native species of butterfly resident in to Britain. Another 13 are regular migrants, including the Red Admiral and the Painted Lady listed, which probably came over from France. The number of species we have seen represents a fair haul, therefore, given the types of habitat on the reserves and that 2002 was nationally a poor year for butterflies.

Species
Common name	Scientific name	Status
Small/Essex Skipper	Thymelicus sylvestris/lineola	Resident
Large Skipper	Ochlodes venata	Resident
Large White	Pieris brassicae	Resident
Small White	Pieris rapae	Resident
Orange Tip	Anthocharis cardamines	Resident
Small Copper	Lycaena phlaeas	Resident
Holly Blue	Celastrina argiolus	Resident
Red Admiral	Vanessa atalanta	Regular Migrant
Painted Lady	Vanessa cardui	Regular Migrant
Small Tortoiseshell	Aglais urticae	Resident
Peacock	Inachis io	Resident
Comma	Polygonia c-album	Resident
Speckled Wood	Pararge aegeria	Resident
Gatekeeper	Pyronia tithonus	Resident
Meadow Brown	Maniola jurtina	Resident

There is an older listing of moths as well as butterflies found on the reserve here.

If you are interested in attracting butterflies to your own grounds or gardens, this list from Really Wild Flowers will be useful.

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