(11)Small White Butterfly [Pieris rapae]. Although generally easy to recognise, there are times when it can be confused with the other cabbage white (large white). The wingspans of both overlap, the small has a span of 40-57mm whereas the large has a span of 55-65mm. In the spring the tips of the fore-wings are slightly clouded with black and the spots in the center of the wings are very faint. The summer brood has blackish tips with more distinct black spots. The caterpillars are more readily distinguished, the small white is green whereas the large white is yellow speckled black. Although resident, the great swell in numbers in some years is associated with immigrants.

(12)Speckled Wood Butterfly [Pararge aegeria]. The butterfly is on the wing most of the year. Mostly found in sun-dappled woodland clearings, on the edges of woods and along hedge sheltered pathways. Along the West Mendip Way near woodland in the summer of 2000, these butterflies were amazingly profuse seemingly benefiting from a damp summer and lush grassland.      ..... Click on  » footnote  for another picture of a speckled wood and further notes.

(13)Wall Brown Butterfly [Pararge megera]. Often found basking on walls, dry banks and the trunks of trees; anywhere it can revel in full sunshine. The female wing area is generally larger than the male. Variations in colour do occur, some having very pale tints and a few much darker than the norm. There are often two or three broods in a season, first noticeable on the wing during May. The pale green larvae dotted with white feed on various grasses such as couch and cock's-foot and the chrysalis can be found suspended from the grass stem.

(14)Small Copper Butterfly [Lycaena phlaeas]. This species shows considerable variation in both the markings and the colour, in particular the arrangement, shape and size of the spots and the presence of black/grey suffusions. It can often be found during the summer months, dashing around in open grassland, where it may be seen basking on flowers of the daisy or clover family, even close to the ground in situations where the vegetation has been grazed short. The green caterpillar covered in white dots, usually has the legs and sometimes the body tinged with pink. The larvae feed on the leaves of dock and sorrel.

(15)Peacock Butterfly [Inachis io]. Not always abundant, some years the numbers can appear very sparse. One of our better known butterflies due to its distinctive appearance with hind wing markings resembling large eyes. The adult hibernates through the winter and can frequently be found in outside stores/buildings (including my own garage roofspace), piles of wood, hollows in tree trunks etc. It awakens during late February or March, shortly to lay its eggs under the young growth of nettle plants on which the caterpillars feed. They are velvety black with white spots and frequently pupate on some nearby shrub. The young butterflies are on the wing usually during August and seem very partial to fruit.

(16)Orange-tip Butterfly [Anthocaris cardamines]. Overwintering as a chrysalis this species is usually seen in late April, May and June, creamy white in color, the male is distinguishable by having a large patch of orange on the corner of its fore wings, which is absent in the female.      ..... Click on  » footnote  for a picture of a female orange-tip and further notes.

(17)Gatekeeper Butterfly [Maniola tithonus]. Frequently called the hedge brown butterfly. On the wing in July, August and early September, often in large numbers, close to hedgerows where they are attracted to bramble blossom. They have a single brood which overwinter from October to March as larvae. The caterpillars feed at night on various grasses such as couch, hiding by day, the larval stage lasting for eight months.

(18)Large Emerald Moth [Geometra papillionaria]. Fresh out of the chrysalis, the delicate wings are a lovely green, but after a couple of days they fade to very pale green and after a few months to nearly white. Not a common moth, usually around in June and July. The green caterpillar feeds on the leaves of birch and elm.

(19)Six-spot Burnet Moth [Zygaena filipendulae]. They only fly in hot sunshine and in June can often be found in fields or by the roadside flying about in large numbers. The dingy yellow caterpillars feeding on clover and trefoil are seen towards the end of May. Bright yellow cocoons spun by the caterpillars can often be found in fields on tall grass stems.

[20]Common Blue Butterfly [Polyommatus icarus]. Usually seen in numbers during periods of sunshine, flitting around our meadows, hillsides and along grassy roadsides, where it feeds on low growing plants such as clovers and rest-harrow. There are many food plants for the caterpillar including the above and bird's-foot trefoil. Two or three broods in a year, which can be seen on the wing from mid April to September before the winter hibernation. The male is generally lilac blue whereas the female is often brown tinged with a few blue scales, although there is a good deal of variation. Bizarre combinations of one wing being typically male in colour, whilst the other wing typically female have been recorded.