Butterfly Conservation: Company limited by guarantee, registered in England (2206468)

Registered Office: Manor Yard, East Lulworth, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 5QP

Charity registered in England & Wales (254937) and in Scotland (SCO39268)

VAT No. 565 9070 16

Cornwall is special for butterflies. It has 42 species, made up of 37 residents, 3 regular migrants (amongst others) and 3 introduced butterflies.

Cornish Residents

See images to right. Click thumbnails for a larger image. To close the larger image simply click on it.

Small Skipper, Large Skipper, Dingy Skipper, Grizzled Skipper, Wood White, Brimstone, Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Orange Tip, Green Hairstreak, Brown Hairstreak, Purple Hairstreak, Small Copper, Silver-studded Blue, Brown Argus, Common Blue, Holly Blue, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Comma, Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Pearl-bordered Fritillary, High Brown Fritillary, Dark Green Fritillary, Silver-washed Fritillary, Marsh Fritillary, Heath Fritillary, Speckled Wood, Wall Brown, Marbled White, Grayling, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Small Heath.

Regular migrants

Clouded Yellow, Painted Lady and Red Admiral (amongst others).

Introduced/re-introduced

Essex Skipper, White Admiral, Large Blue.

Extinct

Large Tortoiseshell.

Identifying a butterfly

If you need help identifying a butterfly then the main Butterfly Conservation website may be able to help you. Click here to access the help pages.

Marsh Fritillary

Euphydryas aurinia

© Lee Slaughter

Silver-studded Blue

Plebejus argus

© Phil Boggis

Brimstone

Gonepteryx rhamni

© Philip Hambly

Holly Blue

Celastrina argiolus

© Philip Hambly

Dingy Skipper

Erynnis tages

© Leon Truscott

Green Hairstreak

Callophrys rubi

© Leon Truscott

Orange Tip

Anthocharis cardamines

© Leon Truscott

Peacock

Aglais io © Leon Truscott

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary

Boloria selene

© Lee Slaughter

High Brown Fritillary

Argynnis adippe

© Steve Basset

Silver-washed Fritillary

Argynnis paphia

© Paul Browning

Small Skipper

Thymelicus sylvestris © CBC

Large Skipper

Ochlodes sylvanus © CBC

Green-veined White

Pieris napi © CBC

Small Copper

Lycaena phlaeas

© Paul Browning

Red Admiral

Vanessa atalanta © CBC

Small Tortoiseshell

Aglais urticae © CBC

Comma

Polygonia c-album © CBC

Pearl-bordered Fritillary

Boloria euphrosyne

© Jim Barker

Grizzled Skipper

Pyrgus malvae

© Paul Browning

Wood White

Leptidea sinapis

© Andrew Carey

Large White

Pieris brassicae © CBC

Brown Hairstreak

Thecla betulae

© Andrew Carey

Purple Hairstreak

Favonius quercus

© Philip Hambly

Brown Argus

Aricia agestis

© Paul Browning

Small White

Pieris rapae

© Jim Barker

Common Blue

Polyommatus icarus

Dark Green Fritillary

Argynnis aglaja

© CBC

Heath Fritillary

Melitaea athalia

© Paul Browning

Speckled Wood

Pararge aegeria

© CBC

Wall Brown

Lasiommata megera

© Paul Browning

Marbled White

Melanargia galathea

© Paul Browning

Grayling

Hipparchia semele

© CBC

Gatekeeper

Pyronia tithonus

© CBC

Ringlet

Aphantopus hyperantus

© CBC

Meadow Brown

Maniola jurtina

© CBC

Small Heath

Coenonympha pamphilus

© CBC

Clouded Yellow

Colias croceus

© Philip Hambly

Painted Lady

Vanessa cardui

© Philip Hambly

Butterfly flight calendar

When are butterflies in flight during the year?

Click here for an Excel file showing when each species is flying.