Common Blue

The Common Blue butterfly is found throughout Britain and Ireland and therefore is our most widely distributed of the blues. On the Isle of Wight it can be seen from April onwards and generally has two broods.The male has violet-blue wings,edged with black and clear white margins.This feature helps seperate it from other blue species.Females can be very variable,ranging from the usual brown form with a hint of blue, to beautiful blue varieties with orange markings.The undersides of both sexes are similar.

Pearl Bordered Fritillary

The Pearl-bordered Fritillary and the Small Pearl-bBordered Fritillary are both on the verge of extinction on the Isle of Wight.There is only one known location for the Pearl-bordered on the Island which is Parkhurst Forest on the outskirts on Newport.It is a butterfly of woodland clearings and seems to have declined all over Britain too.This fritillary is the first to appear in mid-April,and is normally single brooded.It can be seen feeding on the flowers of spring plants such as Bugle,Primrose,and Buttercups.

Dingy Skipper

The Dingy Skipper is found on the Isle of Wight in a variety of habitats.However the larger colonies are found on our south facing downland.It is on the wing from mid April to late June and is often seen in the company of the Grizzled Skipper.

Wood White

The Wood White butterfly is resident in Britain but not on the Isle of Wight.These photos are from Lefkada in Greece.A dainty butterfly with a flappy flight,it is widespread in Europe and can be seen in S.Euorpe from April to September.Found in a very wide range of habitats.

Brimstone

The Brimstone can be seen in March or earlier when it appears after winter hibernation.It will feed on a variety of flowers from primroses and daffodils in the spring to thistles and other purple flowers in the autumn.The male is a sulphur yellow whereas the female is a pale greenish white.

Large Skipper

The Large Skipper  is one of our most common skippers,normally appearing in late May and gone by late August.It can be found in a variety of habitats on the Isle of Wight, from our downland to woodland rides and along rough verges. 

Ilex Hairstreak

This hairstreak has an extensive range from Spain through central  and southern Europe to Greece and Turkey.it is generally common and has a flight period from late May to August.

Green Hairstreak

This is the smallest hairstreak and the most common of this species.It is found in a variety of habitats on the Isle of Wight and indeed all over Britain and Ireland from chalk downland to moorland and scrubby hillsides.This butterfly overwinters as a chrysalis and is therefore one of the first to appear in the spring,usually in April.

The brown upperside is rarely seen as it always settles with its wings firmly closed. The second photograph  however shows some of the upperside  as this butterfly has lost part of its hindwing.