Along the Woodland Edge in April

 The 2025 butterfly season appears to have got off to a good start. I saw my first Large and Small Whites before the end of March and as April has progressed, the weather has become warm and sunny, stimulating a healthy emergence of our spring species.

Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni) (male)

Peacock (Aglais io)

Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus) (male)

Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) (male)

Green-veined White (Pieris napi)

(female)

(mating)

Large White (Pieris brassicae)

Late March and April is the flight period for two closely related species of day-flying moths.

 Orange Underwing (Archiearis parthenias)

This fairly local but widespread species can often be seen on sunny spring days flying around the tops of birch trees (its foodplant), or taking off from the ground just ahead of you. 

Light Orange Underwing (Archiearis notha)

This much more scarce cousin of parthenias has very similar habits to the previous species but it is associated with aspen trees (its foodplant). It is only present in the southern half of England and I suspect that in Sussex it is probably under-recorded. The forewing markings are duller and less distinct than in parthenias and notha males have slightly feathered antennae.  

(males)

(female)