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.
---
|
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.
---
|
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.
---
|
10 days in May-June
28 days.
12 days.
|
Burdocks
|
Painted Lady
|
Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis
|
1 egg on leaf.
Eats leaves.
---
|
2 weeks
7-11days
7-11 days
|
Cabbages
|
Large White
|
Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis
|
40-100 eggs on both surfaces of leaf.
Eats leaves.
---
|
May-June and August-Early September. 4.5-17 days.
30-32 days
14 days for May-June eggs, or overwinter till April
|
Cabbages
|
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
|
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.
|
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.
---
|
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.
|
Hatches after 18-22 days in April.
30 days in May
9 days in June.
|
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
|
1 egg on leaf.
Eats leaves.
|
10 days in May-June.
Pupates in July-August.
17 days in August-September.
|
Clovers
|
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.
|
Cocksfoot grass
|
Large Skipper
|
Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis
|
1 egg under leaf.
Eats leaves.
---
|
11 Months
3 weeks from May
|
Cow-wheat
(Common CowWheat, Field CowWheat)
|
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.
|
Currants
(Red Currant,
Black Currant and Gooseberry)
|
Comma
|
Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis
|
Groups of eggs on upper side of leaf.
Eats leaves.
---
|
|
Devilsbit Scabious
|
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.
|
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.
|
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.
---
|
Hatches after 15 days in May-June.
July-May
9 days in June.
|
Dog Violet
|
Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary
|
Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis
|
1 egg on leaf or stem.
Feeds on leaves until July. Hibernates in dead leaves until March. Eats young leaves until April.
---
|
Hatches after 10 days in May-June.
June-April
April-June.
|
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.
|
Hatches after 18-22 days in April.
30 days in May
9 days in June.
|
False Brome grass
|
Large Skipper
|
Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis
|
1 egg under leaf.
Eats leaves.
---
|
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.
---
|
Hatches after 20 days in July.
July-May
15 days in May.
|
Fyfield Pea
|
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.
|
Garden Pansy
|
Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary
|
Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis
|
1 egg on leaf or stem.
Feeds on leaves until July. Hibernates in dead leaves until March. Eats young leaves until April.
---
|
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.
---
|
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.
---
|
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.
---
|
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
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Chalk-Hill Blue
Wood White
Marsh Fritillary
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Butterfly
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Eats nectar.
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20 days.
May-June.
30 days in May-June.
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Bitter Vetch
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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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Bluebell
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Holly Blue
Pearl-bordered Fritillary
Small Pearl-bordered 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.
June.
June-August.
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Bramble
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Comma
Silver-washed Fritillary
High Brown Fritillary
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Butterfly
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Eats nectar.
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July-October.
7 weeks in July-August.
June-August
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Buddleias
in gardens
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Comma
Peacock
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Butterfly
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Eats nectar.
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July-October
July-May
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Bugle
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Wood White
Pearl-bordered Fritillary
Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary
Heath Fritillary
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Butterfly
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Eats nectar
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May-June.
June.
June-August.
June-July.
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Cabbages and cabbages in fields
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Large White
Small White
Green-veined White
Orange Tip
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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
A Month during May-June or second flight in late July-August
May-June for 18 days.
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Charlock
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Painted Lady
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Butterfly
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Eats nectar
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July-October
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Clovers
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Adonis Blue
Chalk-Hill Blue
Painted Lady
Peacock
Large White
Small White
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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
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
|
Butterfly
|
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
|
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
|
Butterfly
|
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
|
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
|
Marsh Fritillary
|
Butterfly
|
Eats nectar
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30 days in May-June.
|
Heartsease
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Queen of Spain Fritillary
|
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
|
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
|
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
|
Butterfly
|
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
|
Comma
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Butterfly
|
Eats nectar.
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July-October
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Mignonettes
|
Large White
Small White
|
Butterfly
|
Eats nectar
|
April-June or July-September
March-May or June-September
|
Narrow-leaved Plantain (Ribwort Plantain)
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Heath Fritillary
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Butterfly
|
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
|
Eats nectar
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June.
June-August.
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Ragged Robin
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Wood White
Heath Fritillary
|
Butterfly
|
Eats nectar
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May-June.
June-July.
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Scabious
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Painted Lady
Peacock
|
Butterfly
|
Eats nectar
|
July-October
July-May
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Sedum
|
Peacock
|
Butterfly
|
Eats nectar
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July-May
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Teasels
|
Silver-washed Fritillary
|
Butterfly
|
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
|
Butterfly
|
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
|
Eats nectar.
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3 weeks between May and September
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Trefoils
|
Adonis Blue
Chalk-Hill Blue
Glanville Fritillary
|
Butterfly
|
Eats nectar.
|
1 Month during Mid-May to Mid-June or during August-September
20 days in August.
June-July
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Vetches
|
Chalk-Hill Blue
Glanville Fritillary
|
Butterfly
|
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
|
Butterfly
|
Eats nectar
|
June.
June-August.
|
Wood-Sage
|
Heath Fritillary
|
Butterfly
|
Eats nectar
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June-July
|
Apple/Pear/Cherry/Plum Fruit Tree Blossom in Spring
|
Peacock
|
Butterfly
|
Eats Nectar
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April-May
|
Rotten Fruit
|
Peacock
|
Butterfly
|
Drinks juice
|
July-September
|
Tree sap and damaged ripe fruit, which are high in sugar
|
Large Tortoiseshell
|
Butterfly
|
Hibernates inside hollow trees or outhouses until March. Eats sap or fruit juice until April.
|
10 months in June-April
|
Wild Flowers
|
Large Skipper
Brimstone
Silver-washed Fritillary.
Queen of Spain Fritillary
|
Butterfly
|
Eats Nectar
|
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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