Home      •     Photographing insects      •     Autumn leaf scans      •     Pet photo's      •     Friends

 

Butterflies and Moths (Order Lepidoptera)

Lepidoptera is the second largest order in the class Insecta. Nearly all lepidopteran larvae are called caterpillars. They have a well-developed head with chewing mouthparts. In addition to three pairs of legs on the thorax, they have two to eight pairs of fleshy abdominal pro-legs that are structurally different from the... more

 

Blues and Coppers (Family Lycaenidae)

Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus)

The males are a striking bluish-violet color, but females are brown with orange spots near the margins of the wings. In both sexes, the undersides of the wings are grayish brown with blackish spots and orange...  more

     

Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas)

The Small Copper makes up for its diminutive size by being one of the most territorial and aggressive in the family. The butterfly is extremely variable in its coloration, but most specimens are a dark burnished...  more

 
       

top

Brush-footed Butterflies (Family Nymphalidae)

Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae)

The butterfly gets its common name from the pattern on the underside of the wings, which is said to resemble that of a tortoise shell. The scientific name, urticae, refers to the stinging nettles on which the caterpillar...  more

       

Peacock Butterfly (Inachis io)

The beautiful Peacock Butterfly is a well-known and instantly recognizable species thanks to its unique patterning. The stunning eyespots, which earn this species its common name, frighten predators, or divert... more

       

Comma (Polygonia c-album)

The Comma is a beautiful and common butterfly. The wings have scalloped edges, and the undersides are strikingly similar in appearance to dead leaves; an excellent camouflage for hibernating adults. The upper surface of... more

   

Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)

The Red Admiral is a familiar butterfly, and is easy to identify thanks to its striking patterning; the black forewings feature prominent red bars and white spots. The undersides of the hind wings are delicately... more

     

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)

The beautiful Painted Lady is a long-distance migratory species, and is easily recognized by its orange and black patterns and white spots. The caterpillar has a black body with white dots, yellowish-black spines, and... more

     

Captive-bred Tiger Longwing (Heliconius hecale)

       
       

top

Whites and Sulphurs (Family Pieridae)

Brimstone Butterfly (Gonepteryx rhamni)

The Brimstone Butterfly is a common butterfly. The males are bright yellow in color and it is widely held that the species was the inspiration for the name ‘butterfly’. The females are more greenish-white in color...  more

     

Green-veined White (Pieris napi)

The Green-veined White is a familiar common butterfly. Despite the English name, the yellowish-green veins on the undersides of the wings are variable in color, and provide excellent camouflage when this butterfly is... more

   
       

top

Satyrs and Woodnymphs (Family Satyridae)

Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus)

The Small Heath has pale orange upper wings bordered with brown and with brown veins radiating out from the point where the wing is joined to the thorax. There is also a small brown 'eye' on the top of the...  more

     

Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria)

The Speckled Wood is a common woodland butterfly. It is a brown butterfly with yellowish-orange spots on the wings and numerous eye-spots. The undersides of the wings are marbled, and are light and dark brown in... more

     
       

top

Snout Moths (Family Pyralidae)

Small Magpie (Eurrhypara hortulata)

This is one of the most familiar of the Pyralidae, with its yellowish body parts and black-and-white patterned wings. This butterfly can be seen in almost any habitat with warm, dry basking places. It has been recorded...  more

       
       

top

Tiger Moths, Footmen, Lichen Moths and Wasp Moths (Family Arctiidae)

Cinnabar Moth (Tyria jacobaeae)

The cinnabar moth is brightly colored, with crimson hind wings bordered with dusky black. Its dark grey forewings have a red streak towards the front margin and two red spots on the outer edges. The moth is named after...  more

   
       

top

Fairy Moths (Family Adelidae)

Green Longhorn (Adela reaumurella)

The Green Longhorn is a day-active Lepidoptera from the family Adelidae, the fairy long horn moths.

The upper wings of both sexes are metallic green and the under wings are metallic bronze. The males...  more

       
       

top

Tent Caterpillars and Lappet Moths (Family Lasiocampidae)

Drinker (Euthrix potatoria)

This species gets its English (and Latin) name from the habits of the caterpillar, which is supposed to have a liking for drops of dew.
The yellowish females are slightly larger than the orange-brown
...  more

       
       

top

Geometrid Moths (Family Geometridae)

Light Emerald (Campaea margaritata)

Newly emerged adults have pale green wings marked with white fascia, two on the forewing, one on the hind wing. As with most moths of this color, the green coloration fades over time and older specimens tend to...  more

     
       

top

Grass Moths (Family Crambidae)

Mint Moth (Pyrausta aurata)

The Mint Moth (Pyrausta aurata) is a small moth from the family Crambidae, active by day. As the name suggests, the Mint Moth often uses Mint as a food plant, though it can also be found on other species such as...  more

       
       

top

Unknown

       
       

top

 

All Content and Images © 2003-2009, J. Schroder. All Rights Reserved.

Copyright notice

.