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)

Skippers in Sussex

 These dashing little butterflies of the Hesperiidae family can prove a challenge to follow in flight and to get a good enough view to make a positive identification. However, with practice, you can soon learn the salient points required to separate some of the trickier species.

Of the eight species of this family to occur in Britain, six are to be found in Sussex.

Large Skipper (Ochlodes sylvanus) 

This skipper is common and widespread in Sussex, occurring in a wide range of habitats.

(male)

(female)

(mating)

Silver-spotted Skipper (Hesperia comma)

This species is restricted to a downland habitat, where it is reliant on warm and short chalkland sward.

(male)

(females)

(mating)

Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris)

Common and widespread in Sussex, sylvestris can be found in many suitable meadows and grassy tracksides.

(male)

(females)

(mating)

Essex Skipper (Thymelicus lineola)

As with the previous species, this is widespread and common in Sussex. You have to learn the subtle differences between lineola and sylvestris in order to separate them. The easiest feature to observe is the colour of the underside of the antennae tips (black in lineola and orange in sylvestris).

(male)

(females)

Dingy Skipper (Erynnis tages)

This is a widespread species in Sussex, if somewhat localised. It can be found in a variety of habitats.

(male)

(female)

(mating)

(characteristic moth-like posture when roosting)

Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus malvae)

As with the previous species, malvae is widespread across a variety of habitats in Sussex.

(males)

(female)

(mating)

The following two species of Skipper do not occur in Sussex and have no historical connection with the county. 

I include them here in order to complete the British species.

Chequered Skipper (Carterocephalus palaemon)

This species became extinct in England during the 1970's but has been re-introduced to its former stronghold in the midlands in recent years.

The following images were taken in 2013 and 2015 in Scotland.

(male)

(female)

(mating)

Lulworth Skipper (Thymelicus acteon)

This skipper only occurs along the clifftops of Dorset where it can often be found in great abundance.

The following images were taken near West Lulworth in 2013.

(male)

(female)