Species of the month: June

Species: Butterflies

Butterflies represent some of our most colourful insects and can be found in good numbers during June, visiting our gardens as flying adults or appearing as caterpillars; an important food source for our bird population.

Creep up and take a close look at any butterfly and it can be like having a close encounter with another world; the compound eyes are huge, taking up much of the head, the tongue is like a coiled spring, perfectly designed for sipping nectar from flowers and the head is topped off with two sensitive antennae.

These details can be lost against the colourful wings; delicate panes of dusty tissue, run through with fine veins, making geometric patterns.

The comma is a distinctive butterfly with bright orange ragged edged wings; its name comes from a white comma shaped mark, which can be seen on the dark underside of its wings when resting.

The caterpillars of comma butterflies emerge during June; these are mottled with black, white and orange to give the impression of a bird dropping, the best way of limiting predation by birds!  The green caterpillars, popular with blue tits may belong to small white butterflies or various moth species.

How you can help

Adult comma butterflies feed on dandelions and thistles, but the female will lay eggs on nettles, because this is the food plant for her caterpillars.

This is why it can be worth while setting aside a wild patch at the bottom of the garden to provide habitat for butterflies and caterpillars alike.

Nettles are also a popular food source for the caterpillars of red admirals, small tortoiseshell and peacock butterflies.

What else to look out for in June

More colours can be seen in June; look out for wildflowers, such as orchids on the chalk downland and the final displays of bluebells in our woodlands