I would love to spot all the butterfly species in the UK and get a good photo of each of them. It will definitely take some travelling to be able to spot all the butterflies in the UK, but I look forward to that. Someone who watches birds is called a twitcher, but someone who watches/studies butterflies and moths is called a lepidopterist. I guess that is what I am! As I see more butterfly species, I will add more of my own photographs.
I have recently become a member of the butterfly conservation organisation. If you love butterflies, I definitely recommend this. They sent me a newsletter of the best spots in my county to see butterflies, including the specific species.
How many butterfly species are there?
In the UK, there are 59 species of butterfly in total, along with around 2500 moth species! I have managed to spot 34 which I am very happy with. There are so many butterfly species to spot in August, so keep a look out for them.
1. Adonis Blue
2. Black Hairstreak
3. Brimstone
4. Brown Argus
5. Brown Hairstreak
6. Chalk Hill Blue
7. Chequered Skipper
8. Clouded Yellow
9. Comma
10. Common Blue
11. Cryptic Wood White
12. Dark Green Fritillary
13. Dingy Skipper
14. Duke of Burgandy
15. Essex Skipper
16. Gatekeeper
17. Glanville Fritillary
18. Grayling
19. Green Hairstreak
20. Green-veined White
21. Grizzled Skipper
I saw my first Grizzled Skipper very briefly at Rodborough Common, Gloucestershire!
22. Heath Fritillary
23. High Brown Fritillary
24. Holly Blue
25. Large Blue
26. Large Heath
27. Large Skipper
28. Large White
29. Lulworth Skipper
I was so so happy to see lots of Lulworth Skippers at Durlston Country Park at the end of July! I thought I was too late, and they are very rare so I was extremely grateful to spot them.
30. Marbled White
31. Marsh Fritillary
32. Meadow Brown
33. Mountain Ringlet
34. Northern Brown Argus
35. Orange-tip
Spotted at Lotts Meadow, Gloucestershire & Upper Gardens, Bournemouth.
36. Painted Lady
37. Peacock
38. Pearl-boarded Fritillary
39. Purple Emperor
40. Purple Hairstreak
41. Red Admiral
42. Ringlet
43. Scotch Argus
44. Silver-spotted Skipper
45. Silver-studded Blue
46. Silver-washed Fritillary
47. Small Blue
48. Small Copper
49. Small Heath
50. Small Pearl-boarded Fritillary
51. Small Skipper
52. Small Tortoiseshell
53. Small White
54. Speckled Wood
55. Swallowtail
56. Wall
Spotted at Durlston Country Park, Dorset
57. White Admiral
58. White-letter Hairstreak
59. Wood White
And there we have it, all 59 butterfly species to spot in the UK! I haven’t got a good photograph of all of the butterflies that I have seen, but once I do they will be added.
Which butterfly species have you seen? Which do you hope to see?
Caroline ♡
What beautiful captures! I had no idea that someone who studies/watches butterflies is called a lepidopterist! There are so many beautiful species and I’m captivated by the common blue and dingy skipper. Good luck on spotting more this August!
They are so beautiful, thank you!
WOW! You’ve managed to see so many amazing, beautiful species – that’s incredible. Since reading your post, I always keep my eyes peeled for butterflies when I go outside, I throughly enjoy looking at their beautiful colours, it just has a way of making you feel happy! Thank you so much for sharing this with us lovely, I cannot wait to see how many more you see! Xo
Elle – ellegracedeveson.com
Thank you! I hope you spot some x
Wow, we had no idea there were that many species in the UK alone!
Yes 🙂
I have seen white admirals but generally I have seen fewer this year than usual.
Oh wow!
I love butterflies and therefore this post! I’ve never spotted blue butterflies here in Western Canada but they look so beautiful! I’m going to see if we have a Butterfly Conservation here and see if they can provide me with a list to watch for too! Thanks for sharing.
Aw, I hope they do!
Oh these are such beautiful butterflies! Thanks for sharing your list of them
Thank you Charity x
Congratulations on becoming a member of the butterfly conservation. These photos are gorgeous. I love butterflys
Thank you 🙂
Ooh I love this! I had no idea there were 59 butterfly species in the UK alone, that’s a lot! They’re all so beautiful but I really love the different blue ones in particular – they’re gorgeous. Thank you so much for sharing x
Me too 🙂 x
Oh wow that’s amazing there are so many different species of butterflies in the UK, and I love all the photos you shared of the ones you’ve seen.
Thank you Karalee x