Satyrids in Sussex

 The Satyrinae are a sub-family within the Nyphalidae family. Of those that occur in Sussex, one is a rarity but the others are common and widespread within the county. They all use various grasses as a food-plant on which to lay or scatter their eggs and the commoner species can be found in a range of habitats.

The males and females are similarly marked but there are sufficient differences between them to tell them apart, particularly where males of some species show a notable sex-brand in the centre of the forewings.

Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria)

This is a species of dappled woodland edges, where males battle each other for territories. 

(males)

(female)

(courtship)

Wall (Lasiommata megera)

In Sussex, megera is predominantly a downland species but also occurs on coastal flats and along woodland rides.

(males)

(male) (ab. mediolugens)

(female)

(mating)

Marbled White (Melanargia galathea)

This is a very common downland species but small colonies can also be found in wealden glades and field edges.

(female)

(males)

Grayling (Hipparchia semele)

This is the rarest of our Satyrids in Sussex. I am not very up-to-date with its status in West Sussex but in East Sussex, semele is more-or-less restricted to one south facing hillside on the South Downs. 

(male)

(female)

(mating)

The Grayling only shows its upperwing surface during courtship or, as in the following image, when a mating male is fending off another male.

Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus)

This is a common and widespread species in Sussex.

(male)

(male) (ab. obscurior)

(female)

(female) (ab. anticrasipuncta)

(mating)

Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina)

This is a common and widespread species in Sussex.

(male)

(male) (ab. pallidus)

Not to be confused with age related bleaching that often occurs in this species.

(female)

(mating)

Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus)

This common and widespread butterfly rarely displays its upperwings.

(mating)

Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus)

This is a common and widespread butterfly of  damp woodland rides and glades.

(males)

(female)

(female) (ab. arete)

(mating)

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)