Checklist of British butterflies
This list has been compiled by Richard Fox of Butterfly Conservation (with minor additions by Flora-for-Fauna) and includes all resident and regular immigrant species, and some occasional migrants / vagrants. It is not a complete list of all species ever recorded in Britain.
This list does not include subspecies, forms or abberations.
(?) - indicates a degree of uncertainty due to under-recording.
| Scientific name | Common name | Status(in Britain) |
|---|---|---|
| Family: Hesperidae (Skippers) | ||
|
Carterocephalus palaemon Thymelicus acteon Thymelicus lineola Thymelicus sylvestris Hesperia comma Ochlodes venata Pyrgus malvae Erynnis tages |
Chequered Skipper Lulworth Skipper Essex Skipper Small Skipper Silver-spotted Skipper Large Skipper Grizzled Skipper Dingy Skipper |
Scotland only, very localised. Moderate decline and rare S England only, very localised. Rare, but stable Widespread in south. Range expansions Widespread in south. Local range expansions S England only. Rapid decline and rare Widespread in south. Local range expansions Local in south. Moderate decline Local in south. Declining (?) |
| Family: Papilionidae (Swallowtails) | ||
|
Papilio machaon |
Swallowtail |
E.England only, very localised. Rare, but stable |
| Family: Pieridae (Whites and Sulphurs) | ||
|
Leptidea sinapis Gonepteryx rhamni Pieris brassicae Pieris rapae Pieris napi Anthocharis cardamines Colias croceus Colias hyale Colias alfacariensis Aporia crataegi Pontia daplidice |
Wood White Brimstone Large White Small White Green-veined White Orange Tip Clouded Yellow Pale Clouded Yellow Berger's Clouded Yellow Black-viened White Bath White |
Local in south. Moderate decline Widespread in south. Local range expansions Widespread and common. Stable Widespread and common. Stable Widespread and common. Stable Widespread and common. Local range expansions Frequent immigrant. Widespread in low numbers Rare immigrant Rare immigrant Extinct in the UK Rare immigrant |
| Family: Lycaenidae (Blues, Coppers and Hairstreaks) | ||
|
Callophrys rubi Thecla betulae Quercusia quercus Strymonidia w-album Strymonidia pruni Lycaena dispar Lycaena phlaeas Cupido minimus Plebejus argus Aricia artaxerxes Aricia agestis Polyommatus icarus Lysandra coridon Lysandra bellargus Celastrina argiolus Maculinea arion Cyaniris semiargus Lampides boeticus Everes argiades |
Green Hairstreak Brown Hairstreak Purple Hairstreak White Letter Hairstreak Black Hairstreak Large Copper Small Copper Small Blue Silver-studded Blue Northern Brown Argus Brown Argus Common Blue Chalkhill Blue Adonis Blue Holly Blue Large Blue Mazarine Blue Long-tailed Blue Bloxworth Blue |
Widespread but local. Local declines and expansions (?) Local in south. Moderate decline W'spread in south, local in north. Local range expansions W'spread and local in south. Declines and expansions (?) Central England only, very localised. Rare, but stable Reintroduction, E England. Rare Widespread and common. Stable Widespread but local. Moderate decline Local in south. Moderate decline Widespread but local in north. Under-recorded Widespread in south. Range expansions Widespread and common. Local declines (?) Local in south. Local declines Local in south. Moderate decline Widespread in south. Local range expansions Reintroduction, S England. Rare Extinct in the UK Rare immigrant Rare immigrant |
| Family: Riodinidae (Metalmarks) | ||
|
Hamearis lucina |
Duke of Burgundy |
Local in south. Moderate decline |
| Family: Nymphalidae (Vanessids, Emperors and Fritillaries) | ||
|
Ladoga camilla Apatura iris Cynthia cardui Aglais urticae Nymphalis polychloros Vanessa atalanta Inachis io Polygonia c-album Boloria selene Boloria euphrosyne Argynnis adippe Argynnis aglaja Argynnis paphia Euphydryas aurinia Melitaea cinxia Mellicta athalia Nymphalis antiopa Argynnis lathonia |
White Admiral Purple Emperor Painted Lady Small Tortoiseshell Large Tortoiseshell Red Admiral Peacock Comma Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary Pearl-bordered Fritillary High Brown Fritillary Dark Green Fritillary Silver-washed Fritillary Marsh Fritillary Glanville Fritillary Heath Fritillary Camberwell Beauty Queen of Spain Fritillary |
Local in south. Range expansions Local in south. Moderate decline Frequent immigrant. Widespread, very variable numbers Widespread and common. Stable Extinct as resident (?) Regular immigrant. Widespread and common Widespread and common. Local range expansions (?) Widespread in south. Range expansions Widespread but local. Moderate decline Widespread but local. Rapid decline Very localised in west. Rapid decline & rare Widespread but local. Local declines Local in south. Local declines and range expansions Widespread but local in west. Rapid decline S England only, very localised. Rare, but stable S England only, very localised. Rapid decline and rare Rare immigrant. Low numbers in most years Rare immigrant |
| Family: Satyridae (Browns) | ||
|
Pararge aegeria Lasiommata megera Erebia aethiops Erebia epiphron Pyronia tithonus Melanargia galathea Hipparchia semele Maniola jurtina Aphantopus hyperantus Coenonympha pamphilus Coenonympha tullia |
Speckled Wood Wall Scotch Argus Mountain Ringlet Gatekeeper Marbled White Grayling Meadow Brown Ringlet Small Heath Large Heath |
Widespread in south, local in north. Local range expansions Widespread in south. Declining Widespread in north. Under-recorded Very localised in north. Rare Widespread in south. Local range expansions Widespread in south. Local range expansions Widespread but local. Local declines Widespread and common. Stable Widespread in south. Local range expansions Widespread and common. Stable Widespread but local in north. Moderate decline |
| Family: Danaidae (Monarchs) | ||
|
Danaus plexipus |
Monarch |
Rare vagrant. Occasional in west |
| ||
|
Important Note: Status information refers to geographical area rather than actual butterfly numbers. Butterfly densities and ranges may vary independently - density may increase without a corresponding increase in range, for example. |