Large Skipper Ochlodes venata Upperside paler yellow blotches within the orange, also noticeable on underside.
Male has jagged sex-brand on the upper forewings.
Small Skipper Thymelicus sylvestris Upperside solid orange, oblique scent brand on male.
Identification Guide
Upperside similar to Small Skipper except scent brand on male is parallel to wing edge.
Pearl-bordered Fritillary Boloria euphrosyne Upperside, thicker black markings than Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary.
Underside, one central pearl spot plus second closer to inner edge. Black spot in adjacent cell small.
Silver-washed Fritillary Argynnis paphia
Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary Boloria selene Upperside, thinner black markings than Pearl-bordered Fritillary. Markings on leading edge of forewing resembles number 730.
Male bright orange, black streaks on the forewing.
White Admiral Limenitis camilla Dark chocolate brown upperside with distinctive white bands across all four wings.
Painted Lady Vanessa cardui
Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta Underside, mottled, grey, brown and black, well camouflaged.
Underside, cryptic colouration with row of eye spots towards edge of hindwing.
Upperside brown with pale markings, rather moth like in appearance.
Upperside, shades of orange with black tips to forewings.
Upperside, black with white spots on all four wings.
Underside, distinctive veined markings, usually visible from upperside as well, paler in summer brood.
Large White Pieris brassicae Underside similar to Small White but generally more grey scaling.
Underside similar to upper pattern but lighter in tone with blue/grey patch on inner margin of hindwing.
Underside, tip of antennae glossy black (looks like antennae have been dipped into ink!).
Grizzled Skipper Pyrgus malvae
Green-veined White Pieris napi
Several white pearls on underside. Black spot in cell bolder.
Underside, both sexes, green with silver streaks.
Female, dusky-orange, black spots on forewing.
Dingy Skipper Erynnis tages
Underside, dull yellow dusted with grey scales.
Butterflies of the Wyre Forest
Underside, tip of antennae orange.
Essex Skipper Thymelicus lineola
Small White Pieris rapae
Small Tortoiseshell Aglais urticae Upperside orange with black spots and a margin of blue crescents on all four wings.
Upperside well marked, wide black tip to forewing extending further down wing edge than other whites.
Orange Tip Anthocharis cardamines Upperside bright orange tip to wing (male only) with central black spot to forewing.
Underside mottled green hindwings very distinctive, generally visible from upperside.
Upperside, velvet black, with red diagonal stripe, white spots near wing tips.
Peacock Inachis io
Wood White Leptidea sinapis
Upperside, mainly maroon background with large peacock eyespots on all wings. Underside, very dark.
Underside, wide black inner band, narrower and paler outer band with dark margin.
Small Copper Lycaena phlaeas Upperside, coppery orange forewings with black spots, brown hindwings with orange band along the margin.
Underside pale brown with small black dots and orange band on edge of wing.
Holly Blue Celastrina argiolus Upperside male, pale blue with chequered fringes. Upperside female, similar ground colour to male but wide black borders to tips of forewings.
Comma Polygonia c-album Upperside orange with black markings, very scalloped edge to wing.
Underside mottled brown with distinctive white comma mark in centre of hindwing.
Green Hairstreak Callophrys rubi Underside bright green, sometimes with a white dash crossing the hindwing.
Underside, silvery blue with tiny black spots on hindwing.
Common Blue Polyommatus icarus Upperside of the male is bright blue with clear fringes while the female is brown with varying amounts of blue scaling and orange chevron markings on edge of wings.
Brown Argus Aricia agestis Upperside similar to female Common Blue but never any trace of blue scaling. Central eyespot on forewing. Orange lunules on all four wings. Underside similar to Common Blue but arrangements of spots near leading edge of hindwing resemble colon punctuation mark.
Brimstone Gonepteryx rhamni Upperside of male bright buttercup yellow, pointed tip to forewing and hindwing, pale central spot in both wings.
White-letter Hairstreak Satyrium w-album
Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina Upperside dark brown with splash of orange around single-pupilled eyespot, orange splash more extensive on the female.
Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus Upperside, dark chocolate brown, male almost black, number of eyespots towards margin of both wings.
Underside, brown with white line crossing both wings, line on hindwing W-shaped, orange margin to hindwing, distinctive ‘tail’.
Purple Hairstreak Neozephyrus quercus Underside, silver grey with white line crossing both wings with dark pupilled orange eye spot near base of hindwing. Upperside black overshot with irridescent purple. Male has extensive purple colouration while female has a patch of purple on the upper forewings.
Clouded Yellow Colias croceus Underside deep yellowy orange, white marks ringed in red in centre of hindwing, black mark in centre of forewing.
Female similar to male but ground colour paler greenish white. Can be confused with Large White in flight.
Inner margin of underside mid brown paler towards wing edge with small black dots noticeable on some specimens.
Extra spot here distinguishes from Brown Argus. Underside male tends to be grey with orange chevron marks on edges of wings and scattering of black spots with white halos. The female underside tends to be brown with similar markings to the male.
Underside, oval-shaped wings compared to other whites, dusting of grey scales, white abdomen, white spot near tip of antenna on male.
Underside similar to upperside, eyespots on hindwing generally five in number.
Marbled White Melanargia galathea Upperside, very distinctive black and white chequerboard pattern.
Gatekeeper Pyronia tithonus Upperside double-pupilled eyespot, smaller than Meadow Brown. Underside darker inner band on hindwing then paler towards wing edge, white spots within paler area.
Upperside male orange with prominent brown scent brand cutting across forewing, female simliar but lacks scent brand.
Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria Upperside mid/dark brown with series of yellow/cream blotches and black eyespots with white pupils, one on forewing and normally three on the hindwing.
Underside mottled grey and brown, usually forewing eye spot can be seen from underside
Small Heath Coenonympha pamphilus Underside orange on forewing, hindwing gives furry appearance, generally grey brown with paler rings towards the edge.
Underside has a similar pattern, hindwing markings black on male, brown on female.
Discover More There are many excellent identification guides to British Butterflies readily available. Two of the best currently on sale are: Philips Guide to Butterflies of Britain and Ireland by Jeremy Thomas WildGuide: Britain’s Butterflies by David Tomlinson & Rob Still For those who prefer to access information via their computer, several CDs and DVDs are available:
Habitat
Status
Caterpillar Foodplants
Overwinter State
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
butterfly
Common Nettle
widespread
Woodland rides & glades
Brimstone
butterfly
Alder Buckthorn
widespread
Ride edges, patrolling flight
Small Tortoiseshell
butterfly
Nettles
widespread
Open areas often in vicinity of nettles
Comma
butterfly
Common Nettle, Hop, elms, currants
widespread
Woodland rides & glades
cat’r/chrysalis
grasses
widespread
Dappled rides & glades
Small White
chrysalis
crucifers
widespread
Open clearings, flowery meadows
Orange-tip
chrysalis
crucifers
widespread
Damp meadows, woodland rides
Green-veined White
chrysalis
crucifers
widespread
Damp meadows, woodland rides
Large White
chrysalis
crucifers
widespread
Open clearings, flowery meadows
Holly Blue
chrysalis
Holly, Ivy
widespread
Seen around bushes and small trees
Grizzled Skipper
chrysalis
Strawberry, Bramble, Creeping Cinquefoil very local
Sunny rides, short turf & bare patches
Green Hairstreak
chrysalis
Gorse, Broom, Bird’s foot-trefoil
very local
Scrubby areas, heathland
Speckled Wood
Dingy Skipper
caterpillar
Common Bird’s foot-trefoil
very local
Sunny rides with open swards
Pearl-bordered Fritillary
caterpillar
Violets
widespread
Newly coppiced areas & ride edges
The result of all this has been that Wyre still contains many species of butterfly like the Pearl-bordered Fritillary and the Wood White which have been lost from some parts of the UK and are undergoing catastrophic national decline.
Small Copper
caterpillar
Common Sorrel, Sheep’s Sorrel, Dock
local
Flowery pastures, heathland
Brown Argus
caterpillar
Cranesbills, Common Stork’s-bill
very local
Flowery meadows
Common Blue
caterpillar
Common Bird’s foot-trefoil, Clovers
local
Flowery meadows
Now, as a result of the Grow With Wyre partnership and the Back to Orange project, new management work is taking place in many different parts of the Forest which will enhance and extend the special habitats on which these species depend. At the same time, great efforts are being made to better record and monitor important species and involve the local community in learning more about butterflies and their requirements.
Clouded Yellow
Painted Lady
migrant
Thistles mainly
migrant
Sunny, open habitats with thistles
Wood White
chrysalis
legumes
very local
Well vegetated ride edges
Large Skipper
caterpillar
grasses
widespread
Ride margins & scrub
Small Heath
caterpillar
fine grasses
local
Open grassland and heathland areas
legumes
migrant
Flowery meadows - very occasional
Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary
caterpillar
Violets
local
Damper, grassy meadows near streams
Meadow Brown
caterpillar
grasses
widespread
Flowery open grassland, woodland rides
White Admiral
caterpillar
Honeysuckle
local
Rides and forest tracks with bramble
migrant
Silver-washed Fritillary
caterpillar
Common Dog Violet
widespread
Rides & tracks, often on bramble flowers
Ringlet
caterpillar
coarse grasses
widespread
Field margins & scrub
Small Skipper
caterpillar
grasses
widespread
Grassy areas & meadows
Marbled White
caterpillar
grasses
very local
Flowery meadows (recent colonist)
Purple Hairstreak
egg
Oaks
widespread
Canopy of oak trees, sometimes on ash
Essex Skipper
egg
grasses
widespread
Grassy areas & meadows
caterpillar
grasses
widespread
Hedgerows, grassy areas, woodland
Elms
very local
Strongly associated with elm trees
Gatekeeper White-letter Hairstreak
egg
Surveying & Recording Butterflies is Crucial to their Conservation Unless you know what species are present in any given locality it is impossible to plan what management might be required. It is also important to understand whether particular management techniques are working and the best way of measuring success is to record how well key species are faring from year to year. Recording of butterflies in the Wyre Forest dates back to Victorian times and the forest is one of the best recorded sites in all of Britain. This has been crucial in guiding management of habitats in the forest and retaining the richness of wildlife we see today.
Key Locations within the Wyre Forest for Butterflies ������������������� ������������������
�
����������������������
�
�����������������������
�
������������������
�
���������������������������
� �
Records are gathered locally and nationally by Butterfly Conservation and everyone can help with the collection of data. Recording can take many forms, from just noting what you see on an afternoon stroll to going out specifically in search of particular species. A sunny day is best but butterflies will fly in cloudy conditions providing it is warm enough.
www.westmidlands-butterflies.org.uk There are links from this site to the national Butterfly Conservation website and also a special Wyre Forest bulletin board where you can post your own records or find out more about the latest sightings in the Forest.
WYRE FOREST Butterflies through the Seasons
The Wyre Forest, part of which is a National Nature Reserve, straddles the Worcestershire/Shropshire border. A walk along the woodland paths on a sunny day in the summer can provide views of a number of butterflies. This leaflet provides information about the butterflies that occur, how to identify them and when and where to see them.
�
Butterflies are generally not too difficult to identify and this leaflet includes helpful tips to help you identify all the species you are likely to see. The leaflet also includes reference to a number of identification guides widely available which will also be of help.
Marbled White by Debbie Hibbitt
Printed in the UK by Imprint Press Ltd.
April
Peacock
For information on local events, guided walks and other activities visit West Midlands Butterfly Conservation’s regional website:
Text by Mike Williams and Rosemary Winnall. Photographs kindly supplied by Jim Asher, Steven Cheshire, Patrick Clement, Debbie Hibbitt, Jenny Joy, Phil Rudlin, Keith Warmington and Rosemary Winnall. Design by Steven Cheshire Graphics.
March
partial migrant Flowery meadows & orchards
British Butterflies - an Interactive Guide from BirdGuides Better Butterflies - Living Planet production from Butterfly Conservation
This leaflet has been produced through the Back to Orange project which is part of the Grow With Wyre Landscape Partnership Scheme with funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and SITA Trust. The lead partner for Grow With Wyre is the Forestry Commission, and Butterfly Conservation (through Senior Regional Officer Dr. Jenny Joy) is leading on the Back to Orange project.
February
Common Nettle, Hop
Pearl-bordered Fritillary by Jim Asher
Green Hairstreak by Patrick Clement
The forest has a long history and continuity of management, whether as a result of charcoal burning, coppicing or timber production, which has meant that Wyre has retained its open character. There have always been sunny glades or clearings and wide woodland rides and tracks available for warmthloving species like butterflies to nectar and breed.
butterfly
Brown Argus by Steven Cheshire
Its geographic position and underlying geology means that the plants and trees found here are hugely varied, providing many different ecological niches and habitats for butterflies and moths to colonise.
Red Admiral
Each species of butterfly in Wyre is only on the wing for a limited period of time each year. Although there may be slight changes according to annual variation in weather conditions, their flight times are usually predictable. The flight chart shows when the butterflies can be seen, which have more than one brood, and the state in which each species overwinters. In addition the table provides information about caterpillar foodplants, how common each species is within the forest, and the habitats in which they can be found. Recording forms are available so you can send in your sightings. Forms can be downloaded from the regional Butterfly Conservation website:
www.westmidlands-butterflies.org.uk
�
This map is based upon Ordnance Survey material with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationert Office Crown Copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown Copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. Forestry Commission. 100025498
The Wyre Forest lies immediately northwest of Bewdley. The map above shows key areas where many butterfly species can be seen. Ordnance Survey Explorer map 218 covers the whole area.
Wood White by Debbie Hibbitt
There are three main reasons for the amazing diversity found in the Wyre Forest. The Wyre is one of the largest intact blocks of surviving semi-ancient woodland dating back to preDomesday times and extending to nearly 7000 acres. It is the third most important woodland in England for its wildlife.
Butterfly
Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary by Steven Cheshire
Very few sites can boast over 1000 species of these beautiful insects yet the total recorded for Wyre is little short of 1,200, which is nearly half of the total number of butterflies and moths found in all of the UK.
Flight Times
January
The Wyre Forest is one of the best places to see Butterflies and Moths in Britain