Edinburgh/Lothian Butterflies

Updated 2019-08-08 -- David Merrick -- Latest Version

 These are the butterflies you will expect to encounter around and nearby Edinburgh & the Lothians.

 SECTIONS - It is divided into two sections, firstly, a section of upperside photos, and then a section of underside photos, to cover what you managed to see or photograph. Some species in particular rest with their wings up and so only readily show their undersides.

 SUBSECTIONS - Within each section are subsections. You will find a visual subsection summary at the start of the section.

 SPECIES - Each species in the upperside section has an upperside photo, and occasionally further photos (such as underside) where helpful. The photos are from ukbutterflies.co.uk to keep them official. The English name, latin name, a note of its commonness or spread in the region, and links to the websites listed below are provided so you can view all the details, photos and maps, as well as inset maps where not widespread. In the underside section just photo and name are included - maps are omitted and can be found in the uppersides.

 PDF VIEWERS - In a PDF Viewer you can view and jump to the sections and subsections as a tree using the bookmarks/navigator feature in it.

 ASSESSING & PHOTOGRAPHY - Most of the species are quite distinguishable when seen by eye, however a few will need a camera and an inspection of the photo. It is assumed that people will try to photograph the butterflies and particularly capture the upperside, but do always try to catch the underwings too wherever you can too.

 WEBSITES

1.	ukbutterflies.co.uk - this site provides the photos and is the first Details link

2.	butterfly-conservation.org - this site is the second Details link

3.	species.nbnatlas.org - this site provides the inset maps and is the Map link. Inset maps are for records 1975 onward and include unconfirmed records since they are few and do not alter the overall gist of the map. The map link is to all records including very old ones and you’ll need to click ‘Interactive Map’ and then advanced search to adjust the date range. The map backgrounds are from Google Maps.

 FACEBOOK FORUMS

1.	East Scottish Butterflies

2.	Butterflies UK

3.	Butterflies and Moths of GB & Ireland

Species Covered

ENGLISH LATIN Brimstone Gonepteryx rhamni Clouded Yellow Colias croceus Comma Polygonia c-album Common Blue Polyommatus icarus Dark Green Fritillary Argynnis aglaja Grayling Hipparchia semele Green Hairstreak Callophrys rubi Green-Veined White Pieris napi Holly Blue Celastrina argiolus Large Heath Coenonympha tullia Large Skipper Ochlodes sylvanus Large White Pieris brassicae Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina Northern Brown Argus Aricia artaxerxes Orange Tip Anthocharis cardamines Painted Lady Vanessa cardui Peacock Aglais io (Inachis io) Purple Hairstreak Favonius quercus (Neozephyrus quercus) Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus Scotch Argus Erebia aethiops Small Blue Cupido minimus Small Copper Lycaena phlaeas Small Heath Coenonympha pamphilus Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary Boloria selene Small Skipper Thymelicus sylvestris Small Tortoiseshell Aglais urticae Small White Pieris rapae Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria Wall Lasiommata megera	LATIN ENGLISH Aglais io (Inachis io) Peacock Aglais urticae Small Tortoiseshell Anthocharis cardamines Orange Tip Aphantopus hyperantus Ringlet Argynnis aglaja Dark Green Fritillary Aricia artaxerxes Northern Brown Argus Boloria selene Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary Callophrys rubi Green Hairstreak Celastrina argiolus Holly Blue Coenonympha pamphilus Small Heath Coenonympha tullia Large Heath Colias croceus Clouded Yellow Cupido minimus Small Blue Erebia aethiops Scotch Argus Favonius quercus (Neozephyrus quercus) Purple Hairstreak Gonepteryx rhamni Brimstone Hipparchia semele Grayling Lasiommata megera Wall Lycaena phlaeas Small Copper Maniola jurtina Meadow Brown Ochlodes sylvanus Large Skipper Pararge aegeria Speckled Wood Pieris brassicae Large White Pieris napi Green-Veined White Pieris rapae Small White Polygonia c-album Comma Polyommatus icarus Common Blue Thymelicus sylvestris Small Skipper Vanessa atalanta Red Admiral Vanessa cardui Painted Lady

Uppersides

 Choose the basic colour of the butterfly (colours are graduated) and go to its section (use the bookmarks or scroll down); all necessary features are indicated for each species -

- 	White to Very Pale

-   	Yellow / Orange / Red

- 	Brown

- 	Dark/Black

- 	Green

-   	Blue / Purply / Grey-Blue

White to Very Pale

Green-Veined White - Pieris napi - Common - Details & Details - Map	Small White - Pieris rapae - Common - Details & Details - Map
Broken black Strongly veined under	Black spreads mainly toward head & a little rearward

Large White - Pieris brassicae - Common - Details & Details - Map	Orange Tip female - Anthocharis cardamines - Common - Details & Details - Map
Black with large spread rearward	White dashes Mottled under

Brimstone female (male is yellow) - Gonepteryx rhamni - Exceptionally Rare - Details & Details - Map
Orange dots Underside Cusp ends

Yellow

Brimstone female (male yellow) - Gonepteryx rhamni - Very Rare - Details & Details - Map
Orange spots Cusp ends

Clouded Yellow female - Colias croceus - Occasional - Details & Details - Map	Clouded Yellow male - ditto
Simple yellow area with spot Dark areas with light spots	Simple yellow area with spot Dark areas without spots

Orange / Red / Yellow

Small Tortoiseshell - Aglais urticae - Common - Details & Details - Map	Painted Lady - Vanessa cardui - Common - Details & Details - Map
“Zebra crossing” Just orange here	Large black area with white circles

Comma - Polygonia c-album - Frequent - Details & Details - Map	Small Copper - Lycaena phlaeas - Common - Details & Details - Map
Cuspy Gap	Very small butterfly Dark rear half

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary male - Boloria selene - Occasional - Details & Details - Map	Dark Green Fritillary - Argynnis aglaja - Occasional+ - Details & Details - Map
Chevrons join black border Spot not midway between chevrons on this 2nd segment First two markings don’t bow together and join veins Female	First two markings bow together and join veins

Wall - Lasiommata megera - Far East Coast - Details & Details - Map
Thickness of this line varies Eyes

Large Skipper - Ochlodes sylvanus - Far East Coast (1 Rec in Edinburgh City) - Details & Details - Map	Small Skipper - Thymelicus sylvestris - Occasional in City & S & E outside city - Details & Details - Map
Dark mark only on male Light Patterns	No Light Patterning Dark mark only on male

Small Heath - Coenonympha pamphilus - Patchily Frequent - Rests with wings closed presenting an underside like Meadow Brown but it is much smaller in size - Details & Details - Map	Small Heath - underside
Eye (may be large ) Single colour (may be muddy, but lacks dark patches of Gatekeeper) Small Butterfly	Pale, wavy & diminishes to bottom Brown surrounds to many spots

Peacock - Aglais io (Inachis io) - Common - Details & Details - Map	Orange Tip male - Anthocharis cardamines - Common - Details & Details - Map
Four large eyes on red wings	Half orange half white White dashes

Brown

Northern Brown Argus - Aricia artaxerxes - Rare but frequent S & E outside region (see map) - Details & Details - Map	Scotch Argus - Erebia aethiops - Absent (1 record near Linlithgow) however frequent S & W outside the region - Details & Details - Map
Orange trim of ‘V’s	Orange arc with many eyes

Grayling male - Hipparchia semele - Patchy (City, and occasionally coastal to E) - Rests with wings closed - Details & Details - Map	Grayling female - ditto
Orange/yellow fan end with 1 eye

Meadow Brown - Maniola jurtina - Common - Underside very similar to Small Heath (“Orange”) - Details & Details - Map (If the orange is very extensive you may have an exceptional record of a Gatekeeper - Pyronia tithonus - see Details & Details - Map)	Green Hairstreak - Callophrys rubi - Patchily Frequent - Details & Details - Map
Orange patch with single eye Rests often with wings open (cf Small Heath) Murky/ Greyish	Green under

Ringlet - Aphantopus hyperantus - Common - Details & Details - Map	Large Heath - Coenonympha tullia - Pentlands & E & W - rests with wings closed- Details & Details - Map
3(2) + 2 eyes on brown	2(1) + many eyes on yellowy/orangy brown

Speckled Wood - Pararge aegeria- Occasional Far East and Very Occasional in City - Details & Details - Map (If you lack the base ‘eyes’ you may have an exceptional record of a Grizzled Skipper - Pyrgus malvae - Details & Details - Map)
Bars Eyes

Black / Dark

Red Admiral - Vanessa atalanta - Common - Details & Details - Map
Orange ring on dark surrounds Black with white marks

Green

Green Hairstreak underside - Brown on upperside (see Brown section) - Callophrys rubi - Very Patchy - Details & Details - Map

Blue / Purply / Grey-Blue

Common Blue male - Polyommatus icarus - Patchily Common - Details & Details - Map	Common Blue female - Polyommatus icarus ssp mariscolore (ssp icarus inset) - ditto
Simple bright blue	Orange trim around blue Patterned underside Orange & white trim around blue ssp icarus

Holly Blue - Celastrina argiolus - City & Occasional E Coastal - Details & Details - Map
Underside blue with black marks Male Female Blackened rearwards

Purple Hairstreak male - Favonius quercus (Neozephyrus quercus) - Exceptionally Rare but frequent outside to the West - Details & Details - Map	Purple Hairstreak female - ditto
Bluey sheen on brown	Purply sheen on brown

Small Blue - Cupido minimus - Very Rare (East Coastal) - Details & Details - Map	Small Blue - ditto
Very small butterfly Under (Female)	Ditto, with blue sheen (Male)

Unusual Records

Butterflies that have been blown off course sometimes end up in the Edinburgh/Lothians, or used to be present or recorded but no longer are...

Swallowtail - Papilio machaon - 1 record (normally SE England) - Details & Details - Map	Marsh Fritillary - Euphydryas aurinia - Used to be present in the past, with its multi-hued windows on its wings - Details & Details - Map	Pearl-bordered Fritillary - Boloria euphrosyne - old records - Details & Details - Map

Undersides

Choose a pattern scheme and go to the section:-

Simple Colour (+Dots/Eyes)	Windowed	Large-Dappled	Orange-Blob-Edged	Cuspy-Edged
Mottled	Vein-Highlighted	Dark	Tidal Colouring

Simple Colour (+Dots, Eyes or None)

Holly Blue - Celastrina argiolus - City & Occasional E Coastal	Small Blue - Cupido minimus - Very Rare (East Coastal)
Angle < 90 deg	Angle > 90 deg

Green Hairstreak - Callophrys rubi - Very Patchy	Brimstone - Gonepteryx rhamni - Exceptionally Rare
Rounded	Strong veins Cusped Spot

Clouded Yellow - Colias croceus - Occasional	Brimstone - Gonepteryx rhamni - Exceptionally Rare
White Spot	Strong veins Cusped Spot

Large White - Pieris brassicae - Common	Small White - Pieris rapae - Common
Upperside black extends greatly rearward	Upperside black if visible extends mostly frontward

Green-Veined White - Pieris napi - Common	Small Copper - Lycaena phlaeas - Common
Dark-bordered veins Upperside black if visible is broken by veins	Copper coloured (pinky-brown)

Small Skipper - Thymelicus sylvestris - Occasional in City & S & E outside city	Large Skipper - Ochlodes sylvanus - Far East Coast (1 Rec in Edinburgh City)
May be muddy-brown No pale windows	Pale windows

Ringlet - Aphantopus hyperantus - Common
Dark-bordered veins

Windowed

Small Pearl-Bordered Fritillary - Boloria selene - Occasional	Painted Lady - Vanessa cardui - Common
‘V’s + pale	Colourful patternwork Coloured Eyes

Large-Dappled

Dark Green Fritillary - Argynnis aglaja - Occasional+
Large pale blotches + greeny background

Orange-Chevron-Edged

Northern Brown Argus - Aricia artaxerxes - Rare but frequent S & E outside region	Common Blue - Polyommatus icarus - Patchily Common
Pale circles	Orange necklace edge Dark circles

Mottled

Orange Tip (Male) - Anthocharis cardamines - Common	Orange Tip (Female) - Anthocharis cardamines - Common
Mottled Orange upperside is male White Ingressions	Pale upperside is female Mottled

Vein-Highlighted

Green-Veined White - Pieris napi - Common
Veins bordered prominently with dark

Cuspy-Edged

Comma - Polygonia c-album - Frequent
Cuspy edges

Dark

Peacock - Aglais io - Common - Single V dark brown	Red Admiral - Vanessa atalanta - Common
Totally dark	Red waves Coloured circles Arc of red on upperside Darkish brown

Tidal Colouring

Small Tortoiseshell - Aglais urticae - Common	Grayling - Hipparchia semele - Rests with wings closed - Patchy (City, and occasionally coastal to E)
Very dark fore half Wide ligher band Dark trim of ‘V’s	Ligher wavy band narrows to base Pale crescents

Small Heath - Coenonympha pamphilus - Rests with wings closed - Patchily Frequent	Speckled Wood - Pararge aegeria - Occasional Far East and Very Occasional in City
Brown-rimmed eyes (sometimes obscure) Small size!	White-rimmed eyes (here black missing) Brown-rimmed eyes Prominent brown wavy tide lines

Large Heath - Coenonympha tullia - Rests with wings closed - Pentlands & E & W	Wall - Lasiommata megera - Far east coast
Black eyes with pale rims & centres Concentric- ringed eyes	Prominent dark tide lines

Large Heath - Coenonympha tullia - Rests with wings closed - Pentlands & E & W	Purple Hairstreak - Favonius quercus - Exceptionally Rare but frequent outside to the West
White tide line White-rimmed eyes (here black missing) Narrow pale wavy band

Broad silver band (may be poorly distinguished) staying broad almost to base Scotch Argus - Erebia aethiops - Absent (1 record near Linlithgow) however frequent S & W outside the region	Meadow Brown - Maniola jurtina - Common
Many spots Dark line	Broad brown band (may be poorly distinguished) staying broad almost to base 0-2 spots