UKButterflies Larval Foodplants website page lists the larval foodplants used by British butterflies. The name of each foodplant links to a Google search. An indication of whether the foodplant is a primary or secondary food source is also given.
Please note that the Butterfly you see for only a short time has grown up on plants as an egg, caterpillar and chrysalis for up to 11 months, before becoming a butterfly. If the plants that they live on during that time are removed, or sprayed with herbicide, then you will not see the butterfly.
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Plants used by the Butterflies follow the Plants used by the Egg, Caterpillar and Chrysalis
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Plant Name
|
Butterfly Name
|
Egg/ Caterpillar/ Chrysalis/ Butterfly
|
Plant Usage
|
Plant Usage Months
|
Alder Buckthorn
|
Brimstone

|
Egg,
Caterpillar Chrysalis
|
1 egg under leaf.
Eats leaves. ---
|
10 days in May-June 28 days. 12 days.
|
Aspen
|
Large Tortoiseshell
|
Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis
|
Eggs laid in batches encircling the branch of the food plant. Feeds on leaves.
Hangs suspended from stem.
|
Hatches after 18-22 days in April.
30 days in May
9 days in June.
|
Black Medic
|
Common Blue
|
Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis
|
Groups of eggs on upper side of leaf. Eats buds and flowers.
Base of food plant.
|
- - Spend winter at the base of the food plant. They resume feeding in March. 2 weeks
|
Birdsfoot Trefoil
|
Chalk-Hill Blue
|
Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis
|
1 egg at base of plant. Eats leaves.
---
|
Late August-April
April-June
1 Month
|
Birdsfoot Trefoil
|
Common Blue
|
Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis
|
Groups of eggs on upper side of leaf. Eats buds and flowers.
Base of food plant.
|
- - Spend winter at the base of the food plant. They resume feeding in March. 2 weeks
|
Birdsfoot Trefoil
|
Wood White
|
Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis
|
1 egg laid on underside of leaflets or bracts. Eats leaves.
---
|
7 days in June
32 days in June-July. July-May.
|
Bitter Vetch
|
Wood White
|
Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis
|
1 egg laid on underside of leaflets or bracts. Eats leaves.
---
|
7 days in June
32 days in June-July. July-May.
|
Borage
|
Queen of Spain Fritillary
|
Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis
|
1 egg laid under the leaf or on top of the flower. Eats leaves, then before pupating it eats the bloom and leaves of the pansies.
---
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7 days in August.
23 days in August-September
3 weeks in September
|
Bramble
|
Holly Blue
|
Egg,
Caterpillar Chrysalis
|
1 egg on underside of a flower bud on its stalk. Eats flower bud. ---
|
7 days.
28-42 days. 18 days. Early September to Late April for second generation.
|
Buckthorn
|
Holly Blue
|
Egg,
Caterpillar Chrysalis
|
1 egg on underside of a flower bud on its stalk. Eats flower bud. ---
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7 days.
28-42 days. 18 days. Early September to Late April for second generation.
|
Buckthorn
|
Brimstone
|
Egg,
Caterpillar Chrysalis
|
1 egg under leaf.
Eats leaves. ---
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10 days in May-June 28 days. 12 days.
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Burdocks
|
Painted Lady

|
Egg, Caterpillar Chrysalis
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1 egg on leaf. Eats leaves. ---
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2 weeks 7-11days 7-11 days
|
Cabbages
|
Large White

|
Egg,
Caterpillar Chrysalis
|
40-100 eggs on both surfaces of leaf.
Eats leaves. ---
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May-June and August-Early September. 4.5-17 days. 30-32 days 14 days for May-June eggs, or overwinter till April
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Cabbages
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Small White
|
Egg,
Caterpillar Chrysalis
|
1 egg on underside of leaf.
Eats leaves. ---
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May-June and August. 7 days.
28 days 21 days for May-June eggs, or overwinter till March
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Cabbages:- Charlock, Cuckoo Flower, Hedge-Mustard, Garlic-Mustard, Yellow Rocket, Watercress
|
Green-veined White
|
Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis
|
1 egg on underside of leaf. Eats leaves.
---
|
July or August; hatches in 3 days 16 days
14 days in July or for caterpillars of August, they overwinter till May.
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Cabbages:- Charlock, Creeping Yellow-cress, Cuckoo Flower, Dame's Violet, Hedge-Mustard, Horseradish, Garlic-Mustard, Lady's Smock, Large Bittercress, Rock-cress (Common Winter-Cress), Yellow Rocket, Watercress, Wild Turnip
|
Orange Tip
|
Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis
|
1 egg laid in the tight buds and flowers. Eats leaves, buds, flowers and especially the seed pods. ---
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May-June 7 days.
June-July 24 days.
August-May
|
Cherry
|
Large Tortoiseshell
|
Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis
|
Eggs laid in batches encircling the branch of the food plant. Feeds on leaves.
Hangs suspended from stem.
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Hatches after 18-22 days in April.
30 days in May
9 days in June.
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Clovers
|
Common Blue
|
Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis
|
Groups of eggs on upper side of leaf. Eats buds and flowers.
Base of food plant.
|
- - Spend winter at the base of the food plant. They resume feeding in March. 2 weeks
|
Clovers
|
Pale Clouded Yellow
|
Egg, Caterpillar
Chrysalis
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1 egg on leaf.
Eats leaves.
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10 days in May-June. Pupates in July-August. 17 days in August-September.
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Clovers
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Clouded Yellow
|
Egg, Caterpillar
Chrysalis
|
1 egg on leaf.
Eats leaves.
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6 days in May-June. Pupates in 30 days.
18 days in July-August.
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Cocksfoot grass
|
Large Skipper
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Egg, Caterpillar Chrysalis
|
1 egg under leaf. Eats leaves. ---
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11 Months 3 weeks from May
|
Cow-wheat
(Common CowWheat, Field CowWheat)
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Heath Fritillary
|
Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis
|
Eggs laid in batches on the under side of the leaves. Feeds on leaves until end of August. Hibernates on dead leaves until March. Eats young leaves until June. ---
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Hatches after 16 days in June.
June-April
25 days in June.
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Currants (Red Currant, Black Currant and Gooseberry)
|
Comma

|
Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis
|
Groups of eggs on upper side of leaf. Eats leaves.
---
|
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Devilsbit Scabious
|
Marsh Fritillary
|
Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis
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Eggs laid in batches on the under side of the leaves. Feeds on leaves until late August. Hibernates on dead leaves until March. Eats leaves until May. ---
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Hatches after 20 days in July.
July-May
15 days in May.
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Dog Violet
|
Silver-washed Fritillary
|
Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis
|
1 egg on oak or pine tree trunk Hibernates in a crevice in the bark of the tree trunk. Moves out of tree to eat Dog Violet leaves. On rock or twig.
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15 days in July.
August-March.
March-May.
Late June-July
|
Dog Violet
|
Pearl-bordered Fritillary
|
Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis
|
1 egg on leaf or stem. Feeds on leaves until July. Hibernates on dead leaves until March. Eats young leaves until May. ---
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Hatches after 15 days in May-June. July-May
9 days in June.
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Dog Violet
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Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary
|
Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis
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1 egg on leaf or stem. Feeds on leaves until July. Hibernates in dead leaves until March. Eats young leaves until April. ---
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Hatches after 10 days in May-June. June-April
April-June.
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Dogwood
|
Holly Blue
|
Egg,
Caterpillar Chrysalis
|
1 egg on underside of a flower bud on its stalk. Eats flower bud. ---
|
7 days.
28-42 days. 18 days. Early September to Late April for second generation.
|
Elm and Wych Elm
|
Large Tortoiseshell
|
Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis
|
Eggs laid in batches encircling the branch of the food plant. Feeds on leaves.
Hangs suspended from stem.
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Hatches after 18-22 days in April.
30 days in May
9 days in June.
|
False Brome grass
|
Large Skipper
|
Egg, Caterpillar Chrysalis
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1 egg under leaf. Eats leaves. ---
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11 Months 3 weeks from May
|
Foxglove
|
Marsh Fritillary
|
Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis
|
Eggs laid in batches on the under side of the leaves. Feeds on leaves until late August. Hibernates on dead leaves until March. Eats leaves until May. ---
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Hatches after 20 days in July.
July-May
15 days in May.
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Fyfield Pea
|
Wood White
|
Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis
|
1 egg laid on underside of leaflets or bracts. Eats leaves.
---
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7 days in June
32 days in June-July. July-May.
|
Garden Pansy
|
Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary
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Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis
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1 egg on leaf or stem. Feeds on leaves until July. Hibernates in dead leaves until March. Eats young leaves until April. ---
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Hatches after 10 days in May-June. June-April
April-June.
|
Gorse
|
Holly Blue
|
Egg,
Caterpillar Chrysalis
|
1 egg on underside of a flower bud on its stalk. Eats flower bud. ---
|
7 days.
28-42 days. 18 days. Early September to Late April for second generation.
|
Heartsease
|
Queen of Spain Fritillary
|
Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis
|
1 egg laid under the leaf or on top of the flower. Eats leaves, then before pupating it eats the bloom and leaves of the pansies.
---
|
7 days in August.
23 days in August-September
3 weeks in September
|
Hogs's Fennel
|
Swallowtail

|
Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis
|
1 egg on leaf. 5 or 6 eggs may be deposited by separate females on one leaf. Eats leaves, and moves to stems of sedges or other fen plants before pupating. ---
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14 days in July-August
August-September
September-May
|
Holly
|
Holly Blue
|
Egg,
Caterpillar Chrysalis
|
1 egg on underside of a flower bud on its stalk. Eats flower bud. ---
|
7 days.
28-42 days. 18 days. Early September to Late April for second generation.
|
Honesty (Lunaria biennis)
|
Orange Tip
|
Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis
|
1 egg laid in the tight buds and flowers. Eats leaves, buds, flowers and especially the seed pods. ---
|
May-June 7 days.
June-July 24 days.
August-May
|
Honeysuckle
|
Marsh Fritillary
|
Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis
|
Eggs laid in batches on the under side of the leaves. Feeds on leaves until late August. Hibernates on dead leaves until March. Eats leaves until May. ---
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Hatches after 20 days in July.
July-May
15 days in May.
|
Hop
|
Comma
|
Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis
|
Groups of eggs on upper side of leaf. Eats leaves.
---
|
|
Horseshoe vetch
|
Adonis Blue
Chalk-Hill Blue
Berger's Clouded Yellow
|
Egg, Caterpillar
Chrysalis Egg,
Caterpillar Chrysalis Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis
|
1 egg under leaf. Eats leaves.
--- 1 egg at base of plant. Eats leaves. --- 1 egg on leaf.
Eats leaves.
---
|
1 then June-March or September to July 3 weeks. Late August-April.
April-June 1 Month 8-10 days in Late May-June or Middle August-September June-July or September to October 8-15 days
|
Ivy
|
Holly Blue
|
Egg,
Caterpillar Chrysalis
|
1 egg on underside of a flower bud on its stalk. Eats flower bud. ---
|
7 days.
28-42 days. 18 days. Early September to Late April for second generation.
|
Kidney Vetch
|
Chalk-Hill Blue
|
Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis Butterfly
|
1 egg at base of plant. Eats leaves.
--- Eats nectar.
|
Late August-April
April-June
1 Month 20 days
|
Lucerne
|
Pale Clouded Yellow
Clouded Yellow
|
Egg, Caterpillar
Chrysalis
Egg, Caterpillar
Chrysalis
|
1 egg on leaf.
Eats leaves.
1 egg on leaf.
Eats leaves.
---
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10 days in May-June. Pupates in July-August. 17 days in August-September. 6 days in May-June. Pupates in 30 days.
18 days in July-August.
|
Mallows
|
Painted Lady
|
Egg, Caterpillar Chrysalis
|
1 egg on leaf. Eats leaves. ---
|
2 weeks 7-11days 7-11 days
|
Melilot
|
Clouded Yellow
|
Egg, Caterpillar
Chrysalis
|
1 egg on leaf.
Eats leaves.
|
6 days in May-June. Pupates in 30 days.
18 days in July-August.
|
Mignonettes
|
Small White
|
Egg,
Caterpillar Chrysalis
|
1 egg on underside of leaf.
Eats leaves. ---
|
May-June and August. 7 days.
28 days 21 days for May-June eggs, or overwinter till March
|
Milk Parsley
|
Swallowtail
|
Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis
|
1 egg on leaf. 5 or 6 eggs may be deposited by separate females on one leaf. Eats leaves, and moves to stems of sedges or other fen plants before pupating. ---
|
14 days in July-August
August-September
September-May
|
Narrow-leaved Plantain (Ribwort Plantain)
|
Heath Fritillary
|
Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis
|
Eggs laid in batches on the under side of the leaves. Feeds on leaves until end of August. Hibernates on dead leaves until March. Eats young leaves until June. ---
|
Hatches after 16 days in June.
June-April
25 days in June.
|
Narrow-leaved Plantain (Ribwort Plantain)
|
Glanville Fritillary
|
Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis
|
Eggs laid in batches on the under side of the leaves. Feeds on leaves until middle of August. Hibernates on dead leaves until March. Eats leaves until April-May. ---
|
Hatches after 16 days in June.
June-April
25 days in April-May.
|
Nasturtium from Gardens
|
Small White
|
Egg,
Caterpillar Chrysalis
|
1 egg on underside of leaf.
Eats leaves. ---
|
May-June and August. 7 days.
28 days 21 days for May-June eggs, or overwinter till March
|
Oak Tree
|
Silver-washed Fritillary
|
Egg, Caterpillar
Chrysalis
|
1 egg on tree trunk Hibernates in a crevice in the bark of the tree trunk. Moves out of tree to eat Dog Violet leaves. On rock or twig.
|
15 days in July. August-March.
March-May.
Late June-July
|
Mountain pansy, Seaside Pansy, Field Pansy and Cultivated Pansy.
|
Queen of Spain Fritillary
|
Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis
|
1 egg laid under the leaf or on top of the flower. Eats leaves of borage, sainfoin and heartsease, then before pupating it eats the bloom and leaves of the pansies.
---
|
7 days in August.
23 days in August-September
3 weeks in September
|
Pine Tree
|
Silver-washed Fritillary
|
Egg, Caterpillar
Chrysalis
|
1 egg on tree trunk Hibernates in a crevice in the bark of the tree trunk. Moves out of tree to eat Dog Violet leaves. On rock or twig.
|
15 days in July. August-March.
March-May.
Late June-July
|
Plantains
|
Marsh Fritillary
|
Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis
|
Eggs laid in batches on the under side of the leaves. Feeds on leaves until late August. Hibernates on dead leaves until March. Eats leaves until May. ---
|
Hatches after 20 days in July.
July-May
15 days in May.
|
Poplar
|
Large Tortoiseshell
|
Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis
|
Eggs laid in batches encircling the branch of the food plant. Feeds on leaves.
Hangs suspended from stem.
|
Hatches after 18-22 days in April.
30 days in May
9 days in June.
|
Restharrow
|
Common Blue
|
Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis
|
Groups of eggs on upper side of leaf. Eats buds and flowers.
Base of food plant.
|
- - Spend winter at the base of the food plant. They resume feeding in March. 2 weeks
|
Rock-rose
|
Brown Argus
|
Egg, Caterpillar
|
1 egg under leaf. Eats leaves.
|
|
Sainfoin
|
Queen of Spain Fritillary
|
Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis
|
1 egg laid under the leaf or on top of the flower. Eats leaves, then before pupating it eats the bloom and leaves of the pansies.
---
|
7 days in August.
23 days in August-September
3 weeks in September
|
Common Sallow (Willows, Osiers)
|
Large Tortoiseshell
|
Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis
|
Eggs laid in batches encircling the branch of the food plant. Feeds on leaves.
Hangs suspended from stem.
|
Hatches after 18-22 days in April.
30 days in May
9 days in June.
|
Sea Plantain
|
Glanville Fritillary
|
Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis
|
Eggs laid in batches on the under side of the leaves. Feeds on leaves until middle of August. Hibernates on dead leaves until March. Eats leaves until April-May. ---
|
Hatches after 16 days in June.
June-April
25 days in April-May.
|
Snowberry
|
Holly Blue
|
Egg,
Caterpillar Chrysalis
|
1 egg on underside of a flower bud on its stalk. Eats flower bud. ---
|
7 days.
28-42 days. 18 days. Early September to Late April for second generation.
|
Spindle-tree
|
Holly Blue
|
Egg,
Caterpillar Chrysalis
|
1 egg on underside of a flower bud on its stalk. Eats flower bud. ---
|
7 days.
28-42 days. 18 days. Early September to Late April for second generation.
|
Stinging Nettle
|
Comma
Painted Lady
Peacock

|
Egg,
Caterpillar Chrysalis Egg Caterpillar Chrysalis Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis
|
Groups of eggs on upper side of leaf. Eats leaves. --- 1 egg on leaf. Eats leaves. --- Dense mass of 450-500 eggs on the under side of leaves over a 2 hour period. Eats leaves, and moves to another plant before pupating. ---
|
2 weeks in June. 7-11 days 7-11 days 14 days in April-May.
28 days.
13days.
|
Storksbill
|
Brown Argus
|
Egg, Caterpillar
|
1 egg under leaf. Eats leaves.
|
|
Thistles
|
Painted Lady
|
Egg, Caterpillar Chrysalis
|
1 egg on leaf. Eats leaves. ---
|
2 weeks 7-11days 7-11 days
|
Trefoils
|
Clouded Yellow
|
Egg, Caterpillar
Chrysalis
|
1 egg on leaf.
Eats leaves.
|
6 days in May-June. Pupates in 30 days.
18 days in July-August.
|
Vetches
|
Common Blue
|
Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis
|
Groups of eggs on upper side of leaf. Eats buds and flowers.
Base of food plant.
|
- - Spend winter at the base of the food plant. They resume feeding in March. 2 weeks
|
Vetches
|
Wood White
|
Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis
|
1 egg laid on underside of leaflets or bracts. Eats leaves.
---
|
7 days in June
32 days in June-July. July-May.
|
Violets:- Common Dog Violet, Hairy Violet, Heath Dog-violet Pale Dog violet Sweet Violet
|
Dark Green Fritillary
|
Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis
|
1 egg on underside of leaf or on stalk. Hibernates where it hatches. Eats leaves.
Base of food plant.
|
July-August for 17 days. Spends winter on plant until end of March. Eats leaves until end of May. 4 weeks.
|
Violets:- Common Dog Violet, Hairy Violet, Heath Dog-violet Pale Dog violet Sweet Violet
|
High Brown Fritillary
|
Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis
|
1 egg on stem or stalk near plant base. Feed on young leaves, stalks and stems ---
|
July to hatch in 8 months in March
9 weeks pupating in May
4 weeks
|
Vipers Bugloss
|
Painted Lady
|
Egg, Caterpillar Chrysalis
|
1 egg on leaf. Eats leaves. ---
|
2 weeks 7-11days 7-11 days
|
Whitebeam
|
Large Tortoiseshell
|
Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis
|
Eggs laid in batches encircling the branch of the food plant. Feeds on leaves.
Hangs suspended from stem.
|
Hatches after 18-22 days in April.
30 days in May
9 days in June.
|
Wild Angelica
|
Swallowtail
|
Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis
|
1 egg on leaf. 5 or 6 eggs may be deposited by separate females on one leaf. Eats leaves, and moves to stems of sedges or other fen plants before pupating. ---
|
14 days in July-August
August-September
September-May
|
Willow (Bay Willow)
|
Large Tortoiseshell
|
Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis
|
Eggs laid in batches encircling the branch of the food plant. Feeds on leaves.
Hangs suspended from stem.
|
Hatches after 18-22 days in April.
30 days in May
9 days in June.
|
Wood-Sage
|
Marsh Fritillary
|
Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis
|
Eggs laid in batches on the under side of the leaves. Feeds on leaves until late August. Hibernates on dead leaves until March. Eats leaves until May. ---
|
Hatches after 20 days in July.
July-May
15 days in May.
|
Plants used by the Butterflies
|
Plant Name
|
Butterfly Name
|
Egg/ Caterpillar/ Chrysalis/ Butterfly
|
Plant Usage
|
Plant Usage Months
|
Asters in gardens
|
Comma
|
Butterfly
 Comma - female
|
Eats nectar.
|
|
Runner and Broad Beans in fields and gardens
|
Large White
Small White
|
Butterfly
|
Eats nectar
|
April-June or July-September March-May or June-September
|
Aubretia in gardens
|
Clouded Yellow
|
Butterfly
|
Eats nectar
|
May-June or August till killed by frost and damp in September-November
|
Birch
|
Holly Blue
|
Butterfly
|
Eats sap exuding from trunk.
|
April-Mid June and Mid July-Early September for second generation.
|
Birdsfoot Trefoil
|
Chalk-Hill Blue Wood White Marsh Fritillary
|
Butterfly
|
Eats nectar.
|
20 days. May-June. 30 days in May-June.
|
Bitter Vetch
|
Wood White
|
Butterfly
|
Eats nectar
|
May-June
|
Bluebell
|
Holly Blue
Pearl-bordered Fritillary Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary
|
Butterfly
|
Eats nectar
|
April-Mid June and Mid July-Early September for second generation. June.
June-August.
|
Bramble
|
Comma Silver-washed Fritillary High Brown Fritillary
|
Butterfly
|
Eats nectar.
|
July-October. 7 weeks in July-August. June-August
|
Buddleias in gardens
|
Comma Peacock
|
Butterfly
|
Eats nectar.
|
July-October July-May
|
Bugle
|
Wood White Pearl-bordered Fritillary Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary Heath Fritillary
|
Butterfly
|
Eats nectar
|
May-June. June.
June-August.
June-July.
|
Cabbages and cabbages in fields
|
Large White
Small White
Green-veined White
Orange Tip
|
Butterfly
|
Eats nectar
|
April-June or July-September March-May or June-September A Month during May-June or second flight in late July-August May-June for 18 days.
|
Charlock
|
Painted Lady
|
Butterfly
|
Eats nectar
|
July-October
|
Clovers
|
Adonis Blue
Chalk-Hill Blue Painted Lady Peacock Large White
Small White
|
Butterfly
|
Eats nectar.
|
1 Month during Mid-May to Mid-June or during August-September 20 days in August July-October July-May April-June or July-September March-May or June-September
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Clovers
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Pale Clouded Yellow
Clouded Yellow
Berger's Clouded Yellow
Queen of Spain Fritillary
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Butterfly
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Eats nectar
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May-June or August till killed by frost and damp in September-November May-June or August till killed by frost and damp in September-November 1 Month in May-June or August till killed by frost and damp in September-November. May-September.
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Cow-wheat
(Common CowWheat, Field CowWheat)
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Heath Fritillary
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Butterfly
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Eats nectar
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June-July
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Cuckoo Flower (Lady's Smock)
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Wood White
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Butterfly
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Eats nectar
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May-June
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Dandelion
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Holly Blue
Marsh Fritillary
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Butterfly
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Eats nectar
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April-Mid June and Mid July-Early September for second generation. 30 days in May-June.
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Fleabanes
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Common Blue
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Butterfly
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Eats nectar.
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3 weeks between May and September
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Germander Speedwell
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Heath Fritillary
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Butterfly
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Eats nectar
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June-July
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Greater Knapweed
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Comma Peacock Clouded Yellow
Brimstone
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Butterfly
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Eats nectar.
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July-October July-May May-June or August till killed by frost and damp in September-November 12 months
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Hawkbit
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Marsh Fritillary
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Butterfly
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Eats nectar
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30 days in May-June.
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Heartsease
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Queen of Spain Fritillary
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Butterfly
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Eats nectar
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May-September
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Hedge Parsley
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Orange Tip
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Butterfly
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Eats nectar.
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May-June for 18 days.
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Hemp agrimony
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Comma
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Butterfly
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Eats nectar.
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July-October
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Horseshoe vetch
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Adonis Blue Chalk-Hill Blue
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Butterfly
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Eats nectar.
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1 Month 20 days
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Ivy
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Painted Lady Brimstone
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Butterfly
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Eats nectar. Hibernates during winter months in its foliage.
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July-October October-May
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Lucerne
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Painted Lady Large White
Small White
Pale Clouded Yellow
Clouded Yellow
Berger's Clouded Yellow
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Butterfly
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Eats nectar
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July-October April-June or July-September March-May or June-September May-June or August till killed by frost and damp in September-November May-June or August till killed by frost and damp in September-November 1 Month in May-June or August till killed by frost and damp in September-November
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Marigolds in gardens
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Clouded Yellow
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Butterfly
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Eats nectar
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May-June or August till killed by frost and damp in September-November
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Marjoram
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Adonis Blue
Chalk-Hill Blue Common Blue
Clouded Yellow
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Butterfly
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Eats nectar.
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1 Month during Mid-May to Mid-June or during August-September 20 days in August 3 weeks in May-September May-June or August till killed by frost and damp in September-November
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Michaelmas Daisies in gardens
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Comma
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Butterfly
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Eats nectar.
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July-October
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Mignonettes
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Large White
Small White
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Butterfly
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Eats nectar
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April-June or July-September March-May or June-September
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Narrow-leaved Plantain (Ribwort Plantain)
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Heath Fritillary
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Butterfly
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Eats nectar
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June-July
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Nasturtium from Gardens
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Large White
Small White
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Butterfly
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Eats nectar
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April-June or July-September March-May or June-September
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Oak
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Holly Blue
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Butterfly
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Eats sap exuding from trunk.
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April-Mid June and Mid July-Early September for second generation.
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Primroses
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Pearl-bordered Fritillary Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary
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Butterfly
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Eats nectar
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June.
June-August.
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Ragged Robin
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Wood White Heath Fritillary
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Butterfly
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Eats nectar
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May-June. June-July.
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Scabious
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Painted Lady Peacock
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Butterfly
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Eats nectar
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July-October July-May
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Sedum
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Peacock
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Butterfly
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Eats nectar
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July-May
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Teasels
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Silver-washed Fritillary
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Butterfly
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Eats nectar
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7 weeks in July-August.
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Thistles - Creeping Thistle, Dwarf Thistle, Marsh Thistle, Meadow Thistle, Melancholy Thistle, Milk Thistle, Musk Thistle, Seaside Thistle, Scotch Thistle, Spear Thistle, Tuberous Thistle, Welted Thistle, Woolly Thistle
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Comma Painted Lady Peacock Swallowtail Clouded Yellow
Brimstone Silver-washed Fritillary High Brown Fritillary Dark Green Fritillary Queen of Spain Fritillary Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary
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Butterfly
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Eats nectar.
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July-October July-October July-May May-July May-June or August till killed by frost and damp in September-November 12 months. 7 weeks in July-August June-August.
July-August for 6 weeks. May-September.
June-August.
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Thymes
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Common Blue
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Butterfly
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Eats nectar.
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3 weeks between May and September
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Trefoils
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Adonis Blue
Chalk-Hill Blue Glanville Fritillary
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Butterfly
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Eats nectar.
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1 Month during Mid-May to Mid-June or during August-September 20 days in August. June-July
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Vetches
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Chalk-Hill Blue Glanville Fritillary
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Butterfly
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Eats nectar.
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20 days in August. June-July.
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Violets:- Common Dog Violet, Hairy Violet, Heath Dog-violet Pale Dog violet Sweet Violet
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Pearl-bordered Fritillary Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary
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Butterfly
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Eats nectar
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June.
June-August.
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Wood-Sage
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Heath Fritillary
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Butterfly
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Eats nectar
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June-July
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Apple/Pear/Cherry/Plum Fruit Tree Blossom in Spring
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Peacock
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Butterfly
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Eats Nectar
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April-May
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Rotten Fruit
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Peacock
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Butterfly
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Drinks juice
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July-September
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Tree sap and damaged ripe fruit, which are high in sugar
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Large Tortoiseshell
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Butterfly
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Hibernates inside hollow trees or outhouses until March. Eats sap or fruit juice until April.
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10 months in June-April
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Wild Flowers
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Large Skipper Brimstone Silver-washed Fritillary. Queen of Spain Fritillary
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Butterfly
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Eats Nectar
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June-August 12 months. 7 weeks in July-August. May-September
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Links to the other Butterflies:-
Black Hairstreak Brown Hairstreak Camberwell Beauty Chequered Skipper Dingy Skipper Duke of Burgundy Essex Skipper Gatekeeper Grayling Green Hairstreak Grizzled Skipper Hedge Brown Large Blue Large Heath Long-tailed Blue Lulworth Skipper Marbled White Mazarine Blue Meadow Brown Monarch Northern Brown Argus Purple Emperor Purple Hairstreak Red Admiral Ringlet Scotch Argus Short-tailed Blue Silver-spotted Skipper Silver-studded Blue Small Copper Small Heath Small Mountain Ringlet Small Skipper Small Tortoiseshell Speckled Wood Wall Brown White Admiral White-letter Hairstreak
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Site design and content copyright ©April 2008. Page structure amended November 2012. Menus amended July 2015. Chris Garnons-Williams.
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