Potteric Carr Nature Reserve
Butterflies

Twenty-eight species have been recorded including Purple Hairstreak Neozephyrus quercus and Dingy Skipper Erynnis tages.

All except those starred breed on the Reserve every year in varying numbers, with sometimes very large numbers
of certain species. The far right hand column indicates abundance (estimated peak number on any one day) using the
standard Biological Records Centre nomenclature, i.e. A = 1; B = 2-5; C = 6-20; D = 21-100; E = 100–500.


Brown Argus at Potteric Carr  © Allan Parker

 

Small Skipper Thymelicus sylvestris D/E
Large Skipper Ochlodes sylvanus C
Dingy Skipper Erynnis tages *
Clouded Yellow Colias crocea **
Brimstone Gonepteryx rhamni C
Large White Pieris brassicae D
Small White Pieris rapae D
Green-veined White Pieris napi E
Orange Tip Anthocharis cardamines E
Purple Hairstreak Neozephyrus quercus D
White-letter Hairstreak Strymonidia w-album C
Small Copper Lycaena phlaeas C
Common Blue Polyommatus icarus D
Holly Blue Celastrina argiolus C
Brown Argus Aricia agestis C
Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta **
Painted Lady Cynthia cardui **
Small Tortoiseshell Aglais urticae D
Peacock Inachis io E
Comma Polygonia c-album D
Dark-green Fritillary Argynnis aglaja A
Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria E
Wall Brown Lasiommata megera B
Marbled White Melanargia galathea A
Gatekeeper Pyronia tithonus E
Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina D
Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus E
Small Heath Coenonympha pamphilus ***

* The status of this butterfly is unknown on the Reserve. It was last recorded in 1995 when it probably bred.

** Recorded most years, depending on numbers immigrating to the UK from the continent. In some years
(e.g. 1996), the Painted Lady occurs in very large numbers (100+) and in these years the immigrants probably
breed on the Reserve producing a second brood in mid/late summer.

*** No longer recorded.