Looking out for Spring Butterflies
with Endymion Beer
The first butterflies we are likely to see early in the year are those which hibernate in the adult stage or instar, such as the Peacock, Comma, Red Admiral and Small Tortoiseshells. The lovely Brimstone butterfly, not to be confused with the Brimstone moth, also hibernates in the adult form, usually in ivy leaves where it is well-camouflaged. It is thought that the word butterfly originally came from the Brimstone as it was a butter-coloured fly so to speak. These species may awake too early in the year only to be forced back into hibernation until the warmer spring weather arrives properly.
Most of us will remember how the cuckoo arrives in April and therefore all of nature’s plants and animals with cuckoo in the name are seen then. Cuckoo Spit for example, was once thought to be just that. However, the frothy substance we see on plants is actually protective foam made by a tiny creature called the frog hopper in its larval form. Cuckoo Flower (Lady’s Smock) grows at the end of April in time for the Orange Tip butterfly to lay her eggs singly in the buds of the flower in May. Other related plant species such as Garlic Mustard may also be used as food plants for caterpillars, whereas adult butterflies drink nectar from nectar-bearing plants.
Only the male Orange Tip butterfly wears the lovely rich orange tips which I have illustrated for easy recognition. Butterfly habitats are important because only one caterpillar per flower head usually survives owing to the cannibalistic nature of the larvae. Lots of flowers are needed to sustain the next generation. This butterfly hibernates as pupa so eggs laid now will be next year’s adult butterflies we will see on the wing. A fine example then, of why we should stick to footpaths when out in the countryside because it isn’t only birds’ eggs we need to be aware of stepping on!
Spring and summer are the perfect times to observe butterflies on the wing. If you are lucky enough to find caterpillars and cannot recognise them, note the food plant they are on and then take a note of the caterpillar’s description. Looking up the food plant first in a caterpillar identification field guide should help you to identify your caterpillar quickly.
Green Veined White, Large White and Small White butterflies are all seen on the wing in springtime. The Holly Blue butterfly may also be seen in spring and although it lays its eggs on holly in spring, the summer generation of butterflies lays their eggs on ivy. We may also begin to see the first speckled wood butterflies at the end of March but they seem to have two generations going on at the same time. The butterflies we see at the end of March have hibernated as pupa although some have hibernated in the larval stage (as caterpillars) and these won’t be seen on the wing until the end of May. The different species of butterflies have varying habits and life cycles, some having one generation, some two or three in exceptional years and hibernation may take place in any instar depending on the species.
What I find absolutely incredible is the fact that some of our butterflies are migratory. The populations of Red Admiral are boosted tremendously by immigrants whereas there is no hibernation for the Painted Lady: it either migrates or dies. I often imagine butterflies, battling against the winds to fly hundreds of miles to warmer climes. No mean feat!
Please remember your garden butterflies this year. Sedum and the purple flowering buddleia are two excellent nectar-bearing plants from which many insects will drink. However, don’t under estimate wild grasses and stinging nettles, since these are as important to some species of butterfly as many wildflowers are to others, though in this instance purely as food plants for caterpillars. More next time...!
Endymion's illustrations below show: Comma, Brimstone male, Orange Tip.
