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)

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)

Along the Woodland Edge during May and June

 Walking along the woodland edge looking for insects is always enjoyable. In one of my favourite woods, there are substantial mint beds along some of the shady and damp rides which can be particularly productive.

Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) (male)

Vapourer Moth (Orgyia antiqua) (mid-instar larva basking)

Scabious Sawfly (Abia sericea) (male & female)

Tenthredo mesomela (Sawfly sp.)

Macrophya annulata (Sawfly sp.)

Carabus problematicus (Violet Ground Beetle sp.)

Wasp Beetle (Clytus arietis)

Denticollis linearis (Click Beetle sp.)

Green Tortoise Beetle (Cassida viridis)

(mating pair)

Gonioctena decemnotata ( Leaf Beetle sp.)

Hairy Shieldbug (Dolycoris baccarum)

Tortoise Shieldbug (Eurygaster testudinaria)

Nursery Web Spider (Pisaura mirabilis)

(female with her legs wrapped around her egg sac)