comma, peacock, small tortoiseshell © Darin Smith green veined white © Mike Hutchinson

Features from Wildlife magazine Wildlife articles 2008 -- Spring 2008 -- ::Severn Barrage ::The Variety of life ::A year at Willsbridge ::Willsbridge comes of age ::Reaching out - Willsbridge ::Round the reserves Wildlife articles 2007 -- Autumn 2007 -- ::Thinking BIG ::Watery webs:the pond network ::Wildlife in the landscape ::Variety of life ::How to be a climate friend ::Seasonal stroll - Walborough ::Round the reserves -- Summer 2007 -- ::The Folly Farm appeal ::Weston Big Wood-biodiversity at its best ::The variety of life ::How to capture a butterfly ::How to get to know an orchid ::Seasonal stroll - WestonBigWood ::Reserves update -- Spring 2007 -- ::Folly Farm - a very special place ::Making a difference at Folly Farm ::How find the magic at Folly Farm ::Seasonal stroll at Folly Farm ::Magic spots at Folly Farm ::Batscapes ::Climate challenge ::Variety of Life - the Ponways project ::Round the reserves Wildlife articles 2006 -- Autumn 2006 -- ::The Severn Estuary ::Bird Watch results ::How to identify garden birds ::Making space for wildlife ::How does your garden grow? ::Round the reserves -- Summer 2006 -- ::Going for green ::Stand up and be counted ::Happy birthday NSLMP ::Holi day - a riot of spring colour ::Avon's species-rich grassland ::How to photograph dragonflies ::The Big Switch ::Round the reserves -- Spring 2006 -- ::How to identify winter water birds ::Make 2006 the year you... ::Invasive invasion ::Sowing the seeds: Willsbridge Mill ::Round the reserves Wildlife articles 2005 -- Autumn 2005 -- ::Indentify common funghi ::Build a hedgehog hideaway ::Big Bird Watch ::Champions for wildlife ::Round the reserves ::Seeds of the futre: Willsbridge Mill -- Summer 2005 -- ::Restoring Folly Farm ::How to become bee-friendly ::How to identify the butterflies of spring ::Save our seas ::The variety of life: hedgerows ::Round the reserves ::25 Ways to make a difference -- Spring 2005 -- ::The variety of life: water voles ::The Avon Biodiversity Action Plan ::How to take really good wildlife photos ::How to help your garden grow ::Round the reserves ::Seasonal strolls: Browns Folly ::Sowing the seeds: for wildlife for people ::Sowing the seeds: looking back

How to...

Identify the common butterflies of spring and summer

It's relatively easy if they're basking open-winged, showing off all their markings, and you've got a good field guide. But what if you've just glimpsed a butterfly flutter by and a field guide is miles away? Mary Wood is the Trust's Conservation Officer and has carried out wildlife surveys for over ten years. Read on for her top tips in simple identification techniques...

Brimstone (right) large and lazy-flighted, the male a striking primrose yellow (thought to be the original 'butter fly'). The female is much paler and can be mistaken for a large white but has a more sculpted shape like the male and no strong black markings. Can appear as early as February
after hibernation.

Comma can appear larger than it is and quite a vivid orange if it is newly emerged. Sometimes the first thought is 'fritillary!', but the sculpted wings can give it a slightly 'ragged' appearance and the fritillary (silver-washed or dark green) would look very big with a rapid bird-like flight.

Green-veined white (left) like the small white but the veining is more obvious on the upper wing. The underside of the hind wing is where the green veins are, against a yellowy background, making the insect look darker underneath than the small white.

Holly blue the first blue butterfly of the year, often flying quite high among its main caterpillar food plants of holly and ivy. A pale silvery blue above and below, with no hint of orangey-brown on the wing undersides (unlike some other blues), look for the small black dots instead.Large white a big butterfly, with substantial black markings on the upper wing tips. Females have obvious black spots on the upper wings. The lower underwing is yellowy.

Orange tip a small white butterfly with only the male having the distinctively bright orange wingtips. The underside of the lower wing is a mottled green and white.

Peacock (right) large and very dark underneath in appearance, with a powerful flight. You may get an impression of purple, blue, yellow and copper on the upper wings of this richly coloured insect.

Red admiral a migrant, flying all the way from southern Europe and northern Africa! Now known to be able to survive the milder British winters and has even been seen locally in January. A large butterfly, dark underneath but with visible flashes of red, black and white on the slightly pointed upper wingtips.

Small tortoiseshell (left) small and orangey but quite dark underneath; look for a hint of the light blue wing edges as
it flies past.

Small white commoner than the large white and, as you would expect, smaller, although this is not always easy to see unless both species are together. The black on the wing tips is neither as dark nor as extensive as on the large white. Also has yellowy lower underwing.

Speckled wood the commonest one you are likely to find in woodland as it likes shady areas, though it's often found in pools of dappled light - the impression is of a medium-sized uniformly chocolate brown insect, but try to catch a glimpse of the cream spots on the upper wings.

NB - Maintaining a nettle patch is a very good way of attracting butterflies to the garden. Peacocks, red admirals, small tortoiseshells and often commas all lay their eggs on nettles. The larvae then feed on the fresh, succulent new growth - look out for the mass of black spiny peacock caterpillars.

Why not become a butterfly recorder and contribute to the conservation knowledge of these beautiful but vulnerable species? You will find recording forms and details of the Avon Butterfly Group on the Bristol Regional Environmental Records Centre website www.brerc.org.uk

Useful butterfly guides
There are several available so it's best to have a look in the local book shops to see what suits you - these are a sample:

Britain's butterflies - David Tomlinson 2004 Wildguides.Field Studies Council.

Butterflies of the Bristol Region - Barnett, Higgins, Moulin and Wiltshire 2003 (available through Bristol Regional Environmental Records Centre and also the City Museum shop).

The Buttertflies of Great Britain and Ireland - Maitland Emmet and Heath 1990.

Butterfly Conservation Website www.butterfly-conservation.org