One of the most common and widespread butterflies in the UK, range stable. Population trend 10 years -15%; since 1976 +1%.
Familiar sight throughout the whole area, range stable.Population trend 10 years – stable
Favours warm, open meadows, sunny woodland rides, road verges, parks and larger gardens with plenty of flowers and fine or medium grasses.
June to September with peak numbers in July. Males emerge before females.
Any warm grassy site.
The main foodplants are Bents (various) (Agrostis spp.), Cock’s-foot (Dactylis glomerata), Downy Oat-grass (Helictotrichon pubescens), False Brome (Brachypodium sylvaticum), Fescues (various) (Festuca spp.) and Meadow-grasses (various) (Poa spp.)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Egg | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Larva | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pupa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Adult | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||