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.
|
Topic - Wildlife on Plant Photo Gallery.
Some UK native butterflies eat material from UK Native Wildflowers and live on them as eggs, caterpillars (Large Skipper eats False Brome grass - Brachypodium sylvaticum - for 11 months from July to May as a Caterpillar before becoming a Chrysalis within 3 weeks in May) chrysalis or butterflies ALL YEAR ROUND.
Please leave a small area in your garden for wildflowers to grow without disturbance throughout the year for the benefit of butterflies, moths and other wildlife who are dependant on them.
Butterfly
Usage of Plants
by Egg, Caterpillar, Chrysalis and Butterfly
|
Topic -
Plant Photo Galleries for Wildflowers
There are 180 families in the Wildflowers of the UK and they have been split up into 22 Galleries to allow space for up to 100 plants per gallery.
Each plant named in each of the Wildflower Family Pages may have a link to:-
its Plant Description Page in its Common Name in one of those Wildflower Plant Galleries and will have links
to external sites to purchase the plant or seed in its Botanical Name,
to see photos in its Flowering Months and
to read habitat details in its Habitat Column.
Wild Flower Gallery
with its
flower colour comparison page,
space,
Site Map page in its flower colour
NOTE Gallery:-
...Blue Note
...Brown Note
...Cream Note
...Green Note
...Mauve Note
...Multi-Cols Note
...Orange Note
...Pink A-G Note
...Pink H-Z Note
...Purple Note
...Red Note
...White A-D Note
...White E-P Note
...White Q-Z Note
...Yellow A-G Note
...Yellow H-Z Note
...Shrub/Tree Note
Each of the above 17 Flower Colour Comparison Pages compares the wildflowers with that flower colour in the top section using the thumbnails of the ones that I have. This is followed by a list of all the Wildflowers of the UK that have that same flower colour. Then, in the right hand table is the list of Wildflowers of the UK with that habitat as shown below:-
- White A-D
and
Habitats of Saltmarshes, Beaches, Rocks and Cliff Tops
White E-P
and
Other Habitats
White Q-Z
and
Number of Petals
- Cream
and
Coastal Sandy Shores and Dunes
- Yellow A-G
and
Pollinator
Yellow H-Z
and
Poisonous Plants
- Orange
and
Habitat of Hedgerows and Road Verges
- Red
and
Habitat of Pinewoods
- Pink A-G
and
Habitats of Lakes, Canals and Rivers
Pink H-Z
and
Habitats of Marshes, Fens and Bogs
- Mauve
and
Habitat of Grassland - Acid, Neutral or Chalk
- Purple
and
Habitats of Old Buildings and Walls
- Blue
and
Flower Legend
- Green
and
Habitat of Broad-leaved Woods
- Brown
and
Food for Butterfly / Moth
- Multi-Coloured
and
Habitats of Heaths and Moors
- Shrub and Small Tree
and
Habitats of River Banks and Other Freshwater Margins
Seed 1
and
Scented Flower, Foliage or Root
Seed 2
and
Story of Their Common Names
Non-Flower Plants and
Non-Flowering Plant Use
Introduction
and
Edible Plant Parts
Site Map
and
Use of Plant
You can find the wild flower in one of the 23 Wild Flower Galleries or the Colour Wheel
Gallery
If
you know its name, use
Wild Flower Plant Index a-h,
Wild Flower Plant Index i-p or
Wild Flower Plant Index q-z
you know which habitat it lives in,
use
Wild Flowers on
Acid Soil Habitat Table,
on Calcareous
(Chalk) Soil,
on Marine Soil,
on Neutral Soil,
is a Fern,
is a Grass,
is a Rush, or
is a Sedge
you know which family it belongs to, use
Wild Flower Family Pages menu below
|
Wild Flower Family Page
(the families within "The Pocket Guide to Wild Flowers" by David McClintock & R.S.R. Fitter, Published in 1956 are not in Common Name alphabetical order and neither are the common names of the plants detailed within each family. These families within that book will have their details described as shown in the next column starting from page 1 in February 2017 until all the families have been completed on page 307.
This may take a few months of my time before I get to the Adder's Tongue Family on page 307.
The information in the above book is back-referenced to the respective page in "Flora of the British Isles" by A.R. Clapham of University of Sheffield,
T.G. Tutin of University College, Leicester and
E.F. Warburg of University of Oxford printed by Cambridge at the University Press in 1952 for each plant in all the families)
followed by
No. of Plants of that Family
that have a row with their details in their flower colour in this central data table;
and then
the relevant entries in the Habitat Index Pages and other characteristics in other Index Pages in the Page Menu / Index Table on the left
(with over-flow in another table below the flower colour in the central data table and then onto
continuation pages)
within this gallery
|
Adder's Tongue
|
Amaranth
|
Arrow-Grass
|
Arum
|
Balsam
|
Bamboo
|
Barberry 2
|
Bedstraw
|
Beech
|
Bellflower
|
Bindweed
|
Birch
|
Birds-Nest
|
Birthwort
|
Bogbean
|
Bog Myrtle
|
Borage
|
Box
|
Broomrape
|
Buckthorn
|
Buddleia
|
Bur-reed
|
Buttercup 45
|
Butterwort
|
Cornel (Dogwood)
|
Crowberry
|
Crucifer (Cabbage/Mustard) 1
|
Crucifer (Cabbage/Mustard) 2
|
Cypress
|
Daffodil
|
Daisy
|
Daisy Cudweeds
|
Daisy Chamomiles
|
Daisy Thistle
|
Daisy Catsears
|
Daisy Hawkweeds
|
Daisy Hawksbeards
|
Daphne
|
Diapensia
|
Dock Bistorts
|
Dock Sorrels
|
Clubmoss
|
Duckweed
|
Eel-Grass
|
Elm
|
Filmy Fern
|
Horsetail
|
Polypody
|
Quillwort
|
Royal Fern
|
Figwort - Mulleins
|
Figwort - Speedwells
|
Flax
|
Flowering-Rush
|
Frog-bit
|
Fumitory 3
|
Gentian
|
Geranium
|
Glassworts
|
Gooseberry
|
Goosefoot
|
Grass 1
|
Grass 2
|
Grass 3
|
Grass Soft Bromes 1
|
Grass Soft Bromes 2
|
Grass Soft Bromes 3
|
Hazel
|
Heath
|
Hemp
|
Herb-Paris
|
Holly
|
Honeysuckle
|
Horned-Pondweed
|
Hornwort 2
|
Iris
|
Ivy
|
Jacobs Ladder
|
Lily
|
Lily Garlic
|
Lime
|
Lobelia
|
Loosestrife
|
Mallow
|
Maple
|
Mares-tail
|
Marsh Pennywort
|
Melon (Gourd/Cucumber)
|
Mesem-bryanthemum
|
Mignonette
|
Milkwort
|
Mistletoe
|
Moschatel
|
Naiad
|
Nettle
|
Nightshade
|
Oleaster
|
Olive
|
Orchid 1
|
Orchid 2
|
Orchid 3
|
Orchid 4
|
Parnassus-Grass
|
Peaflower
|
Peaflower Clover 1
|
Peaflower Clover 2
|
Peaflower Clover 3
|
Peaflower Vetches/Peas
|
Peony 1
|
Periwinkle
|
Pillwort
|
Pine
|
Pink 1
|
Pink 2
|
Pipewort
|
Pitcher-Plant
|
Plantain
|
Pondweed
|
Poppy 9
|
Primrose
|
Purslane
|
Rannock Rush
|
Reedmace
|
Rockrose
|
Rose 1
|
Rose 2
|
Rose 3
|
Rose 4
|
Rush
|
Rush Woodrushes
|
Saint Johns Wort
|
Saltmarsh Grasses
|
Sandalwood
|
Saxifrage
|
Seaheath
|
Sea Lavender
|
Sedge Rush-like
|
Sedges Carex 1
|
Sedges Carex 2
|
Sedges Carex 3
|
Sedges Carex 4
|
Spindle-Tree
|
Spurge
|
Stonecrop
|
Sundew
|
Tamarisk
|
Tassel Pondweed
|
Teasel
|
Thyme 1
|
Thyme 2
|
Umbellifer 1
|
Umbellifer 2
|
Valerian
|
Verbena
|
Violet
|
Water Fern
|
Waterlily 3
|
Water Milfoil
|
Water Plantain
|
Water Starwort
|
Waterwort
|
Willow
|
Willow-Herb
|
Wintergreen
|
Wood-Sorrel
|
Yam
|
Yew
|
Total 65
|
|
|
Plants used by the Butterflies follow the Plants used by the Egg, Caterpillar and Chrysalis as stated in
A Butterfly Book for the Pocket by Edmund Sandars.
Published by Oxford University Press London: Humphrey Milford in 1939.
|
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
|
Common Birdsfoot Trefoil
|
Chalk-Hill Blue
|
Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis
|
1 egg at base of plant.
Eats leaves.
---
|
Late August-April
April-June
1 Month
|
Common 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
|
Common 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 -
Alder Buckthorn and Common 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 eats all cruciferous plants, such as cabbages, mustard, turnips, radishes, cresses, nasturtiums, wild mignonette and dyer's weed
|
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 (Lady's Smock),
Hedge-Mustard,
Garlic-Mustard,
Yellow Rocket (Common Winter-Cress),
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 (Lady's Smock),
Dame's Violet,
Hedge-Mustard,
Horseradish,
Garlic-Mustard,
Lady's Smock,
Large Bittercress,
Rock-cress (Common Winter-Cress),
Yellow Rocket (Common Winter-Cress),
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 with
Wild Cherry,
Morello Cherry and
Bird 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 1, 2, 3
|
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 1, 2, 3
|
Pale Clouded Yellow
|
Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis
|
1 egg on leaf.
Eats leaves.
|
10 days in May-June.
July-August.
17 days in August-September.
|
Clovers 1, 2, 3
|
Clouded Yellow
|
Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis
|
1 egg on leaf.
Eats leaves.
|
6 days in May-June.
30 days.
18 days in July-August.
|
Cocksfoot is a 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 with
Common Dog Violet,
Heath Dog Violet and
Wood 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 with
Common Dog Violet,
Heath Dog Violet and
Wood 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 with
Common Dog Violet,
Heath Dog Violet and
Wood 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 is a grass (Wood Brome, Wood False-brome and Slender False-brome)
|
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.
July-August.
17 days in August-September.
6 days in May-June.
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.
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 1, 2, 3
|
Clouded Yellow
|
Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis
|
1 egg on leaf.
Eats leaves.
|
6 days in May-June.
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 ending 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
(White Beam)
|
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
|
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.
|
Common 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.
|
Cabbage 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 1, 2, 3
|
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
|
Clovers 1, 2, 3
|
Pale Clouded Yellow
Clouded Yellow
Berger's Clouded Yellow
Queen of Spain Fritillary
|
Butterfly
|
Eats nectar
|
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.
|
Cow-wheat
(Common CowWheat, Field CowWheat)
|
Heath Fritillary
|
Butterfly
|
Eats nectar
|
June-July
|
Cuckoo Flower (Lady's Smock)
|
Wood White
|
Butterfly
|
Eats nectar
|
May-June
|
Dandelion
|
Holly Blue
Marsh Fritillary
|
Butterfly
|
Eats nectar
|
April-Mid June and Mid July-Early September for second generation.
30 days in May-June.
|
Fleabanes
|
Common Blue
|
Butterfly
|
Eats nectar.
|
3 weeks between May and September
|
Germander Speedwell (Veronica chamaedrys - Birdseye Speedwell)
|
Heath Fritillary
|
Butterfly
|
Eats nectar
|
June-July
|
Greater Knapweed
|
Comma
Peacock
Clouded Yellow
Brimstone
|
Butterfly
|
Eats nectar.
|
July-October.
July-May.
May-June or August till killed by frost and damp in September-November.
12 months
|
Hawkbit
|
Marsh Fritillary
|
Butterfly
|
Eats nectar
|
30 days in May-June.
|
Heartsease
|
Queen of Spain Fritillary
|
Butterfly
|
Eats nectar
|
May-September
|
Hedge Parsley
|
Orange Tip
|
Butterfly
|
Eats nectar.
|
May-June for 18 days.
|
Hemp agrimony
|
Comma
|
Butterfly
|
Eats nectar.
|
July-October
|
Horseshoe vetch
|
Adonis Blue
Chalk-Hill Blue
|
Butterfly
|
Eats nectar.
|
1 Month.
20 days
|
Ivy
|
Painted Lady
Brimstone
|
Butterfly
|
Eats nectar.
Hibernates during winter months in its foliage.
|
July-October.
October-July
|
Lucerne
|
Painted Lady
Large White
Small White
Pale Clouded Yellow
Clouded Yellow
Berger's Clouded Yellow
|
Butterfly
|
Eats nectar
|
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
|
Marigolds in gardens
|
Clouded Yellow
|
Butterfly
|
Eats nectar
|
May-June or August till killed by frost and damp in September-November
|
Marjoram
|
Adonis Blue
Chalk-Hill Blue
Common Blue
Clouded Yellow
|
Butterfly
|
Eats nectar.
|
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
|
Michaelmas Daisies
in gardens
|
Comma
|
Butterfly
|
Eats nectar.
|
July-October
|
Mignonettes
|
Large White
Small White
|
Butterfly
|
Eats nectar
|
April-June or July-September.
March-May or June-September
|
Narrow-leaved Plantain (Ribwort Plantain)
|
Heath Fritillary
|
Butterfly
|
Eats nectar
|
June-July
|
Nasturtiums in gardens
|
Large White
Small White
|
Butterfly
|
Eats nectar
|
April-June or July-September
March-May or June-September
|
Oak Tree
|
Holly Blue
|
Butterfly
|
Eats sap exuding from trunk.
|
April-Mid June and Mid July-Early September for second generation.
|
Primroses
|
Pearl-bordered Fritillary
Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary
|
Butterfly
|
Eats nectar
|
June.
June-August.
|
Ragged Robin
|
Wood White
Heath Fritillary
|
Butterfly
|
Eats nectar
|
May-June.
June-July.
|
Scabious
|
Painted Lady
Peacock
|
Butterfly
|
Eats nectar
|
July-October.
July-May
|
Sedum
|
Peacock
|
Butterfly
|
Eats nectar
|
July-May
|
Teasels
|
Silver-washed Fritillary
|
Butterfly
|
Eats nectar
|
7 weeks in July-August.
|
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
|
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.
|
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.
|
Thymes
|
Common Blue
|
Butterfly
|
Eats nectar.
|
3 weeks between May and September
|
Trefoils 1, 2, 3
|
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
|
Vetches
|
Chalk-Hill Blue
Glanville Fritillary
|
Butterfly
|
Eats nectar.
|
20 days in August.
June-July.
|
Violets
|
Pearl-bordered Fritillary
Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary
|
Butterfly
|
Eats nectar
|
June.
June-August.
|
Wood-Sage
|
Heath Fritillary
|
Butterfly
|
Eats nectar
|
June-July
|
Apple/Pear/Cherry/Plum Fruit Tree Blossom in Spring
|
Peacock
|
Butterfly
|
Eats Nectar
|
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
|
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
|
|
