A strong, fast-flying, far-ranging butterfly and a cheering sight on a warm March day. The males are bright yellow in colour but the females have a yellow with greenish-white colouration and from a distance can be mistaken for the Large White. Both have an orange spot in the centre of each wing. Seen across Yorkshire in parks, gardens, woodland edges, heaths and grassland. Caterpillar food plant is Alder Buckthorn and Purging Buckthorn.

Brimstone

A small rich brown, butterfly with tiny orange crescents (lunules) near the outer wing edges. Found on open, sunny, short, rough grassland. The Common Blue female can cause confusion but normally shows a blue colouration on the upperside of the wings and is larger. Food plants: Rockrose on chalk soils, and geranium sp. on neutral or acid soils.

Brown Argus

Clouded Yellow butterflies are migrants from the continent and numbers fluctuate widely from year to year. This butterfly is identified by a figure of eight spot on the underside of the forewings which are rounded in shape. It also has black tips to the upper sides of its wings. It is one of only two yellow butterflies seen in Yorkshire, the other being the Brimstone. Can appear anywhere.

Clouded Yellow

The Comma is a medium-sized warm-orange butterfly with brown markings. Like the Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell it hibernates in out-buildings and uses the protection of wall shrubs such as ivy and clematis. It has scalloped edges to the wings and a white crescent 'comma' mark on the dark undersides which resemble dead leaves. Often seen in woodland rides, parks and gardens. Eggs are laid on hops, nettles, sallow

Comma

A widespread butterfly found in a variety of grassy habitats. The males are bright blue and very conspicuous. Females are brown infused with a blue tinge close to the body and have orange crescents near the wing margins. They rest with wings closed to show a pale brownish-grey underside with black spots and orange crescents on the hindwings. Fast low-level flyers. Larval food plants Bird's-foot trefoil & Clovers.

Common Blue

This large fritillary has a fast, strong flight and is widely distributed around Yorkshire although in small numbers. The underside of the hind wing, near the body, is suffused with green, this is more obvious in freshly emerged specimens. Found in a variety of habitats, where it flies even on windy days. The caterpillars feed on violets.

Dark Green Fritillary

The Dingy Skipper is a moth-like butterfly that can be easily missed especially when it basks on stones or bare ground. It is dark grey brown and has a neat row of white dots along the edge of each wing. Occurring where Common Bird's-foot trefoil grows and bare ground is showing. Limestone grassland on the North York Moors, coal tips, railway yards and sidings in South and West Yorkshire and the Wolds.

Dingy Skipper

The Duke of Burgundy is one of Yorkshire's rarest resident butterflies. They are dark brown with rows of pale orange markings that give a chequered appearance. Males are darker. The underwings have distinctive, bright pale, rectangular 'spots'. The females lay their eggs on Primroses and Cowslips in sheltered, sunny woodland clearings, rides & coppiced glades normally on limestone soils with rough, lightly grazed grass.

Duke of Burgundy

Almost identical to the Small Skipper. The orange-brown wings are finely edged with dark brown and the undersides have a yellowish tinge. Male has dark markings on the wings and is slightly smaller than the female. Distinguishing feature is that the underside of the antenna is black not orange. Occurs in the south of the county, along the Humber and near Doncaster. Is now found in VC66 Durham.

Essex Skipper

An attractive, small, bright 'brown' butterfly with orange-brown patches on the upper wings and a large dark eye spot with two white dots on each forewing. Found in sunlit, rough grassland in the shelter of walls hedges and shrubs. The Gatekeeper is expanding north and can occur locally in large numbers especially in the Vale of York area

Gatekeeper

A rather drab, mottled grey brown insect that often settles on bare ground where it is perfectly camouflaged. Always rests with wings closed but flashes a warning eye spot if it is disturbed. Increasingly rare but look for it on the Wolds, coastal cliffs and on brownfield sites. Huge numbers have been observed on old industrial sites south of Middlesbrough.

Grayling

This small, bright green gem usually rests with its wings closed and can be found perching on scrub and heather. It is associated with Bilberry which is the main food plant on moorland. On lowland sites Gorse bushes are used as look out points by aggressive males that chase off any other butterflies in the vicinity. Occasionally seen on limestone grassland, where the larval food plant is Rock-rose.

Green Hairstreak

A very common Yorkshire butterfly. They enjoy damp places by streams, drainage ditches, water meadows and hedgerows where wild crucifers, the caterpillar food plants, occur. They have subtle markings on the upper wings but are distinguished from Small Whites by the greenish-grey 'veins' on the under wings. Food plants include, Cuckoo flowers (or Lady's Smock), Garlic mustard (or Jack-by-the-hedge).

Green-veined White

This butterfly is a silvery sky blue colour. The underwings have tiny black spots without white surrounds or any orange colouration and are a very pale blue. The upper forewings are often marked with thin black edging which is darker and wider on females. Often seen in parks, gardens and along hedges flying high into trees and shrubs and normally not far from ivy which is the larval foodplant for the autumn generation.

Holly Blue

This dull orange-brown butterfly has ringlet–like spots on the underside of its wings which are quite grey. It is never found anywhere else but very peaty, boggy areas. The caterpillars feed on Cotton grass and the adults fly slowly and often in an erratic, moth-like way at ground level seeking nectar from various bog plants.

Large Heath

The shape, size and posture are similar to Small Skipper. Large Skippers have blotches on both the upper and undersides of the wings. The undersides are often suffused with olive green. Inhabits the same rough grassland and meadows but emerges earlier than the Small Skipper and rarely occurs in large numbers. Widespread resident.

Large Skipper

Our largest white butterfly is, like the Brimstone, a strong flyer and can be seen almost everywhere, although it is less common on high ground. It has bold black spots and black wing tips which extend down the edge of the wing. The underside of the hindwings are pale greenish- yellow. Food plant brassicas. Widespread resident and migrant.

Large White

This is a distinctive black and white butterfly that prefers tall rough grassland. Often found in limestone areas but also enjoys road verges, waste ground, coastal grasslands especially if they are un-grazed and rarely mown. They can be seen on the fringes of the North Yorkshire Moors.

Marbled White

One of Yorkshire's most common butterflies, the Meadow Brown is found on a variety of grasslands and in parks and gardens. The Males are smaller and often darker than the females. The caterpillar food plants are a variety of grasses.

Meadow Brown

Differs from Brown Argus in that the orange markings on the upper forewings are absent, those on the hind wings are small and the underside is paler with smaller black spots. As it is difficult to tell the differences between Brown Argus and Northern Brown Argus ID should be made by site. Restricted to the North and West of the county on limestone in the Pennines and Dales, here its caterpillars feed on Rock Rose.

Northern Brown Argus

The Orange-tip male is unmistakable with his bright orange wing patches & is a true harbinger of spring. Females can be mistaken for Small or Green-veined Whites. However, both sexes have distinctive mottled green markings on the undersides of their wings. They are common in gardens, woodlands and damp meadows & require the same food plants as Green-veined Whites, Lady's Smock & Mustards.

Orange-tip

Another migrant from Europe that arrives in varying numbers depending on the weather. The upper wings are an orangey - buff with a rosy tinge. The underside of the hindwing has a row of blue eye spots. In good years large numbers of Painted Ladies are attracted to thistles which are nectar plants for the adult butterflies as well as caterpillar food plants.

Painted Lady

With its bright distinctive 'eyes' this large butterfly is unlikely to be confused with any other. Like those of the Small Tortoiseshell its dark, hairy, blue-black larvae feed on Stinging Nettles in communal webs. They hibernate in the coldest months.

Peacock

Yorkshire's rarest butterfly. Confined to four sites on the edge of the North York Moors National Park. The butterfly requires a sheltered dry place with some bracken for cover and Common Dog Violets, which are the larval foodplant. Searches of areas with similar conditions may well reveal further colonies. Please report any sightings to Butterfly Conservation.

Pearl-bordered Fritillary

Silvery grey when viewed from the ground as it takes short flights above the canopies of medium-tall trees. Favours Oak where it lays its eggs. Crawls about the foliage and rests with wings closed or basks with wings open. In trees with dense canopies along sunny woodland edges. Use binoculars.

Purple Hairstreak

This species is a familiar, bold, bright and strong flying butterfly that migrates to Britain from the continent each year. Very mobile so can be seen all over Yorkshire. Loves to feed on rotting apples and pears in the autumn. Caterpillar food plants are stinging nettles and occasionally hops.

Red Admiral

The Ringlet is a  very dark, velvety-brown butterfly at first but becomes paler and duller as it ages. The underwings have several black circular spots with cream surrounds and white central spots. They favour lush, long, damp grass and fly in overcast conditions and even light rain. A widespread resident seen all over the county where conditions are suitable.

Ringlet

This butterfly has dark velvety chocolate-coloured wings when it first emerges. The eye-spots being quite prominent on all four wings. The Scotch Argus prefers warm sunshine and is often seen flying low and erratically over grassland which is ungrazed or lightly grazed. The caterpillars feed on a variety of grasses including Blue Moor-grass and Sheep's Fescue.

Scotch Argus

A former resident has returned to the county after a century absence  moving north in increasing numbers and forming new colonies  in recent years. It is the largest of our fritillaries and takes its name from the iridescence of the hindwings. This is a butterfly of larger woodlands with open rides and the bright orange male is distinctive with a fast-swooping flight who start the season patrolling high along the wood edge. The female is slightly larger, darker with more prominent spots. The adults are very mobile and gregarious following nectar sources around the woodland, knapweed being a particular favourite. The caterpillar's main food plant is Common Dog-violet.

Silver-washed Fritillary

The smallest of the UK butterflies. The sexes are similar in appearance. This butterfly is found at only a couple of locations'in Yorkshire. They are often found in small discrete colonies alongside roadsides or railway embankments containing a good amount of Kidney Vetch its larval foodplant.

Small Blue

A bright, dainty, shining orange butterfly that favours sunny meadows, woodland clearings and gardens.
    The forewings are a coppery-orange with brown spots and edges. The hind-wings are dark brown with an orange edge band. The larval food plants are Rumex (Docks and Sorrels). Widespread.

Small Copper

A very small butterfly which always rests with its wings closed showing the nice pale orange-brown forewings with one small eye spot. It likes rough grassland and is common along stream sides and rabbit and sheep grazed track margins especially on moorland. Look for it at Scar Close NNR. Lowland populations are denser in number, try valley grasslands and old quarries.

Small Heath

A beautiful, rare Yorkshire resident that occurs in damp grassland and boggy areas. It can be confused with the rare Pearl-bordered Fritillary, from which it differs in having seven black-bordered white cells on the underside of the hindwing and also its preference for damp places and a slightly later flight period. Caterpillar food plants are Common and Marsh Violets.

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary

A small, plain, bright orange - brown butterfly with a fine dark edge to the wings. It has a furry rather dumpy body and appears moth - like. Rests in characteristic skipper pose with hindwings flat and forewings raised in a V. This species can be seen, often in large numbers, in rough grassland and meadows. It is a widespread resident.

Small Skipper

This familiar butterfly can be seen in nearly every month of the year especially during those with mild winters. Adults hibernate in outbuildings, garages and lofts and are one of the earliest butterflies to emerge in spring. The black and yellow caterpillars feed on nettles and have communal webs for protection.

Small Tortoiseshell

Often confused with the Green-veined White as it is the same size and shape and looks similar in flight. The Small White is plain yellowish-grey under the hindwings and has dark tips to its forewings. The female has two dark spots on the forewing, males have one. Seen anywhere there are suitable nectar and food plants; Nasturtiums and any of the brassica family.

Small White

A dark brown butterfly with creamy-yellow 'speckles'. Males are often seen perched in sunlit clearings ready to chase off any intruders or intercept females. The caterpillars feed on grasses. Found in shady woodlands hedgerows and gardens county wide. 

Speckled Wood

This butterfly loves to bask on stone walls, paths and patches of bare ground (hence its name). It is an orange-brown butterfly with one white centred eye spot on each forewing. They can be very restless and fast flying in hot sunshine so are hard to ID unless basking. A localised but widespread resident absent from high ground.

Wall

This butterfly breeds in the canopies of elm trees and like the Purple Hairstreak, spends most of its life up there. Slightly easier to see as they descend to ground level to nectar on bramble and thistle flowers. Rests with wings closed to show the white 'W'. Woodland edges wherever elm or Wych elm is present. Binoculars are recommended.

Peacock

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