Summer Butterflies in a Wealden Wood

 Every year, butterfly abundance and emergence dates vary according to weather conditions. This year, in my local woods, most summer species have emerged early and in excellent numbers, with the possible exception of the Ringlet which seems to have had a rather average year.

By the middle of June, I had seen my earliest ever White Admiral (on the 14th). My first Silver-washed Fritillary of the year appeared on 13th June (my earliest date for this species was on 10th June, over a decade ago).

The Purple Hairstreak was also early to emerge and by the time I caught up with this species during the last week of June, there were a mixture of fresh and frayed examples about.

Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia)

(male)

(female)

(mating)

(female, form valezina)

This beautiful pale form, which looks silvery-green, is occasionally referred to as valezina-alba.

White Admiral (Limenitis camilla)

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)

Peacock (Aglais io)

Comma (Polygonia c-album)

Purple Hairstreak (Favonius quercus)

(males)

(females)

Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris) (male)

Large Skipper (Ochlodes sylvanus) (male)

Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus) (male)

Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina)

(female)

(mating)

Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus)

(male)

(female)