Butterflies @ West Leeds

In West Leeds any garden with a few shrubs or flowers could expect to attract from 12 to 14 species of butterflies in most years.

The most common and earliest of these are Peacock, Red Admiral, Comma and Small Tortoiseshell. These are some of the larger butterflies that will have hibernated over the winter in garden sheds and garages etc. Any mild sunny day in January, February or March could tempt these butterflies to have their first flutter of the new year. The Large White, Small White and Green Veined White are normally the next to be seen from March onwards. In late April to early May the Holly Blue and Orange Tip should be flying and, with a little bit of luck, the beautiful Painted Lady and Wall Brown could be seen. In early June the Meadow Brown is usually the last of the more common species to emerge.

In The Countryside

Away from gardens a walk in your local woodland could be rewarded with sightings of Brimstone. The large pale yellow male and the smaller, lighter coloured, female normally fly from March onwards. Speckled Wood should be seen in May flitting about sunny and shady areas of most woodland. On open grassland, farmland, grass verges and scrubby areas Common Blue, Large Skipper, Small Heath and Small Copper should start flying from late April to early May onwards. Into June you can start looking for Small Skipper and Ringlet followed by Gatekeeper in early July. The last of the more common species is the Purple Hairstreak. Although common it is not always easy to find as it favours the tops of Oak trees. Frome early July onwards any group of Oak trees is worth searching. Look around the tree tops and you may see one or two dashing about before settling on the large flat leaves. Another tree butterfly is the White Letter Hairstreak. This species lives in the canopy of the Elm tree. With 'Dutch Elm Disease' destroying most of our Elms this butterfly is becoming very hard to find. The third hairstreak to be found in Yorkshire is the Green Hairstreak. This is easier to find as it thrives on moor land heather and Bilberry plants. Otley Chevin and Ilkley Moor are two good places to visit for this species between late April and early May.

Further Away

Away from Leeds the Yorkshire Wolds, Dales and the North Yorkshire Moors hold some of our rarer species of butterfly. Marbled White, Brown Angus, Large Heath, Dingy Skipper, Small Pearl-Bordered Fritillary and Dark Green Fritillary can be found in the right habitat at the correct time of the year.

Butterfly Conservation

Anyone interested in butterflies will find great pleasure in becoming a member of the Butterfly Conservation Group. Membership enquiries should be sent to:

Butterfly Conservation Butterfly Conservation Web-Site

Manor Yard

East Lulworth

Wareham

Dorset BH20 5Qp

Good butterfly hunting. All text and pictures supplied by Brian Hewit.