garden lepidoptera - butterflies and moths

Steve Oakes has been a volunteer speaker and guide for the RSPB for over 38 years. He is also a recorder for Butterfly Conservation and worked at Air Traffic Control Centre in Swanwick for 7 years. Steve lives in the Avon Valley south of Salisbury. His garden backs onto to water meadows and fields, the river Avon is 100m away (50m in winter floods) and all the species shown were found in Steve’s Garden.

The word “Lepidoptera” is derived from the Greek words “lepidos”  meaning “scales” and “Pteron” meaning “wings” so wings covered in tiny scales which give them their patterns.

Steve explained the lifecycle of the species which starts with broods, or laying of eggs, with certain species this can be just once a year or several times with others. The egg or Ovum is laid by the adults on or near the larval food plant, the eggs than hatch into caterpillars which eat the food supply. The caterpillars than turn into Chrysalis or Pupae and pupate, or turn, into butterflies or moths.

Steve began with the Butterflies that overwinter as adults and emerge in March or April:

Brimstone Butterfly – the earliest to emerge, born the previous Summer they hibernate within dense leaves, such as Ivy. The male is the first to emerge then go “nectaring” searching for food in spring flowers such as primroses, then look for females who will lay eggs on larval food of Alder buckthorn or Purging buckthorn. New butterflies then emerge in July, although this year it was June. They prefer purple flowers such as buddleia and thistle.

Peacock Butterfly – Hibernates in dark crevices in trees or sheds or garages. When closed their wings are black making a good camouflage. The female looks for stinging nettle in a sunny spot where 300 to 500 stick eggs are laid, the emerging caterpillars then create a communal web under which to feed. The caterpillars can themselves be eaten from within by tiny parasitic flies. The Chrysalis is green and is usually on something green, they then emerge in June and by mid-August look for a hibernation spot.

Red Admiral Butterfly - These are migrants from North Africa arriving in March to July, but with climate change some now hibernate in the UK. They like stinging nettles for food and also love split fruit, such as apples from which they sip the juice, and sometimes get drunk! If not hibernating in the UK, they head back to North Africa flying low over the water.

Comma Butterfly – emerges late February to March. A woodland species, brown with brown spots, when the wings are closed, they look like dead Oak leaves. They use nettles and currant leaves for larvae.

Small Tortoiseshell – These were a common sight until parasitic fly, the Stumia bella fly, arrived in 1998 after which they dramatically declined. They like sedums.

Steve then moved on to the Spring emerging Butterflies (April to June)

Orange Tip butterfly – The males have orange wing tips warning predators they are not tasty! The female lacks the orange tip. When wings are closed, they look like garlic mustard plant. They emerge from April to June, lay only one brood and have a 1-year lifecycle. For food they like rocket, honesty, ladies smock and garlic mustard.

Green veined white butterfly – Prefer moist quiet spaces, close to ponds. When mating the male gets female on the ground and uses lemon scented “love dust”. In a good year two broods can be laid. They turn into Chrysalis to hibernate.  Food sources are watercress, garlic mustard and hedge mustard.

Large white butterfly – These are a major garden pest feeding on brassicas and nasturtiums. They can have two to three broods of up to 100 eggs at 4 per minute from May to September. In addition, Continental immigrants boost summer numbers. Females can sniff brassicas via their “sinigrin” the higher the content the more popular the plant! The butterflies themselves are attacked by various parasitic wasps as well as humans!

Small white butterfly – The smaller version, they don’t absorb as much of the “sinigrin” compound and so are purged by birds as well. They also have multiple broods.

Holly Blue butterfly – a two brooded species. The first in Spring uses Holly the 2^nd Summer brood uses Ivy. They also like cornus, spindle and heather. When wings are open the female has black tips showing.  They too are attacked by a parasitic wasp.

Steve then went on to show us the “brown” group of butterflies:

Meadow Brown butterfly – the most common, emerging from June to August. The female is more sedentary, if disturbed she will pop her forewings up showing more orange on upper wings than her male counterpart. It’s very common and most widespread.

Gatekeeper (Hedge Brown) butterfly – Also very common and widespread. They like nectar of Dock and sorrel, and yarrow is their favourite as well as dandelions. They can have up to four broods till early November.

Skippers (small and large) butterfly – they hold their upper wings at 45 degrees. They have a long proboscis for tubular flowers.

Painted lady butterfly – known worldwide. They don’t hibernate but die at 5C. They have a 3-week lifecycle and have been noted on Springwatch and Autumnwatch. They have five to six broods and can reach as far as the arctic circle.

Next, we moved on to Moths   - There are over 310 types in our gardens

The main difference between butterflies and Moths is their Antennae – The butterflies have club antennae whereas Moths do not.

Our first group; the Day Flying Moths

Mint Moth - Common and small, only 8ml emerges March to September and has purple and gold colourings and likes mint!

Silver Y Moth – Probably the UK’s most common immigrant moth it arrives from April to September and prefers nettles, clovers, peas and runner beans.

Scarlet Tiger Moths – Comfrey is its main food. Adults emerge in June and July and can be seen from late afternoon to early evening. The moth with wings open shows a brilliant red patch and the caterpillars are equally striking being black and yellow.

Jersey Tiger Moth – Now increasingly common in Southern UK, it is a partial immigrant. They like cliffs and can be found as far as Salisbury. It has an orange and red underwing and is black and white when the wings are closed.

Hummingbird Hawk Moth – These are migrants from the Mediterranean and North Africa. They arrive in April to October.  2025 has been an excellent year for them as they don’t like the wet. They prefer tubular flowers such as abelia and daffodils.

Currant Clearwing butterfly – They are tiny, as small as a thumbnail, and like gooseberry and black currant bushes. A special pheromone trap which mimics female pheromones is required for detection.  There is also a Redtip Clearwing.

Our next group of Moths are the Night Flying Moths, which are attracted by light:

Willow Beauty Moth – they use Ivy, honeysuckle, conifers and deciduous plants to feed.

Brimstone Moth - One of the first to arrive at dusk, attracted by house lights. They have two broods one in April and a second in September. For food they enjoy sloes, hawthorn and damsons.

Large Yellow Underwing – Very common. Potential crop pest on runner beans. At its peak in August.

Angel Shades Moth – It has stepped wings and has a wingspan of ¾". The moth is a resident but there are also immigrants that arrive in May. They roost in full view in daytime.

Setaceous Hebrew Character Moth – Very common, has two broods. The name refers to distinctive markings on the wing which resemble the Hebrew letter “nun”.

The next species mentioned were the Hawk Moths;

Elephant Hawk Moth – Mid May to Mid July. A very attractive moth. The caterpillar looks like an elephant trunk. It likes eating willow herb and Fuchsias.

Privett Hawk Moth – The largest moth in gardens. It’s size and looks are quite spectacular although it is a common moth. They have no mouth parts but are breeding machines and only last 10 days. The caterpillar are finger size with green and white colours. They can be found on spiraea, forsythia, lilac and holly.

Eyed Hawk Moth – They also have no mouth parts. They can be seen May to June. The open wings are lovely. The caterpillars feed on Apple tree leaves.

The Winter moths can be seen from October to January and carry antifreeze protection against frost. They include the Pale Brindle Beauty (end Jan – March) and Oak Beauty (Feb – April)

The last two moths shown were the “Merveille du Jour” - light green in colour with grey markings, it’s very beautiful and like overripe berries with Oak leaves being their food plant.

Our last photo was of the Sallow Kitten Moth, a very cute Moth indeed!

Katrien Burrows