Butterfly Conservation: Herts & MiddxSpecies list

Hertfordshire & Middlesex's Butterflies

Butterfly Conservation is dedicated to conserving both butterflies and moths.

For information about the status of moths in Hertfordshire and Middlesex. . . .

Hertfordshire Moth Group
Website Moth pages

35 species of butterfly occur most years in Hertfordshire and 32 in Middlesex, together with the occasional migrant or vagrant. The following table summarises their status in the two counties:

Species Name	Scientific Name	UK BAP* Status	Hertfordshire Status	Middlesex Status
Dingy Skipper	Erynnis tages	Priority species	Rare local resident	Absent
Grizzled Skipper	Pyrgus malvae	Priority species	Rare local resident. Hertfordshire BAP species	Absent
Essex Skipper	Thymelicus lineola	Not listed	Widespread and common resident but local concern	Widespread and common resident but local concern
Small Skipper	Thymelicus sylvestris	Not listed	Widespread and common resident but local concern	Widespread and common resident but local concern
Silver-spotted Skipper	Hesperia comma	Priority species	Absent - last record 1959 (individual seen in a Tring garden 2016)	Absent
Large Skipper	Ochlodes sylvanus	Not listed	Widespread and abundant species	Widespread and abundant species
Wood White	Leptidea sinapis	Priority species	Absent - last record 1976	Absent
Orange-tip	Anthocharis cardamines	Not listed	Widespread and abundant species	Widespread and abundant species
Large White	Pieris brassicae	Not listed	Widespread and abundant species	Widespread and abundant species
Small White	Pieris rapae	Not listed	Widespread and abundant species	Widespread and abundant species
Green-veined White	Pieris napi	Not listed	Widespread and abundant species	Widespread and abundant species
Clouded Yellow	Colias croceus	Not listed	Less common migrant	Less common migrant
Brimstone	Gonepteryx rhamni	Not listed	Widespread and abundant species	Widespread and abundant species
Wall	Lasiommata megera	Priority species (research only)	Believed to be now extinct	Believed to be now extinct
Speckled Wood	Pararge aegeria	Not listed	Widespread and abundant species	Widespread and abundant species
Small Heath	Coenonympha pamphilus	Priority species (research only)	Widespread and abundant resident but local concern	Local resident (not recorded in central London)
Ringlet	Aphantopus hyperantus	Not listed	Widespread and abundant species	Widespread and common resident and range increasing towards central London
Meadow Brown	Maniola jurtina	Not listed	Widespread and abundant species	Widespread and abundant species
Gatekeeper	Pyronia tithonus	Not listed	Widespread and abundant species	Widespread and abundant species
Marbled White	Melanargia galathea	Not listed	Widespread and abundant species	Local resident but range increasing towards central London. London species of conservation concern
Silver-washed Fritillary	Argynnis paphia	Not listed	Local woodland resident	Local and rare. London species of conservation concern
Dark Green Fritillary	Argynnis aglaja	Not listed	Present along the Chiltern ridge	Very occasional reports. London BAP species
White Admiral	Limenitis camilla	Priority species	Local woodland resident	Rare local woodland resident. London BAP species
Purple Emperor	Apatura iris	Not listed	Elusive local woodland resident. Hertfordshire BAP species	Elusive local woodland resident. London BAP species
Red Admiral	Vanessa atalanta	Not listed	Widespread and abundant species / migrant species	Widespread and abundant species / migrant species
Painted Lady	Vanessa cardui	Not listed	Variable migrant	Variable migrant
Peacock	Aglais io	Not listed	Widespread and abundant species	Widespread and abundant species
Small Tortoiseshell	Aglais urticae	Not listed	Widespread and abundant species and occasional migrant	Widespread and abundant species and occasional migrant
Camberwell Beauty	Nymphalis antiopa	Not listed	Exceptionally rare migrant	Exceptionally rare migrant
Comma	Polygonia c-album	Not listed	Widespread and abundant species	Widespread and abundant species
Duke of Burgundy	Hamaeris lucina	Priority species	Absent - although a confirmed record in 2009	Absent
Small Copper	Lycaena phlaeas	Not listed	Widespread and abundant resident but local concern	Widespread and abundant resident but local concern
Brown Hairstreak	Thecla betulae	Priority species	Several unconfirmed sightings	Very rare but possibly expanding north - 2 known colonies (2018)
Purple Hairstreak	Favonius quercus	Not listed	Widespread and abundant resident but under recorded	Widespread and abundant resident but under recorded
Green Hairstreak	Callophrys rubi	Not listed	Very rare local resident	Very rare local resident increasing in range. London species of conservation concern
White-letter Hairstreak	Satyrium w-album	Priority species	Under recorded and elusive resident	Under recorded and elusive resident. London BAP
Long-tailed Blue	Lampides boeticus	Not listed. Recent colonist in the south of England. Some reports suggesting emergence from imported pea products.	Occasional reports	Occasional reports
Small Blue	Cupido minimus	Priority species	Very rare local resident	Unknown status, could be present? London BAP
Holly Blue	Celastrina argiolus	Not listed	Widespread and abundant species	Widespread and abundant species
Brown Argus	Aricia agestis	Not listed	Widespread and abundant species	Local resident. London species of conservation concern
Common Blue	Polyommatus icarus	Not listed	Widespread and abundant species	Widespread and abundant species
Adonis Blue	Polyommatus bellargus	Priority species	Absent - last record 1959	Absent
Chalkhill Blue	Polyommatus coridon	Not listed	Local resident, mainly only along the Chiltern ridge. Hertfordshire BAP species	Occasional vagrant

*BAP = Biodiversity Action Plan.

Click here for more information about the National BAP