Category: heathland-bm

  • Common Heath

    Common Heath

    This day-flying moth species is on the wing in June across heathlands on The Lizard. Photo: Sarah Board

  • Silver-washed Fritillary

    Silver-washed Fritillary

    The Silver-washed Fritillary is the largest of the UK Fritillaries. Look out for it at the height of summer, in July and August. Photo: Ray Surridge

  • Emperor Moth

    Emperor Moth

    The spectacular Emperor moth is on the wing in April and May.  Photo: Emily Hobson

  • Gatekeeper

    Gatekeeper

    Late July and early August is the peak time for the chocolate and orange Gatekeeper butterfly. Look out for them round hedgerows and scrubby areas. Photo: Amanda Scott

  • Grass Eggar

    Grass Eggar

    The sea-cliffs of the south-west, including those of The Lizard, are among the best places to find the Grass Eggar moth, a nationally scarce species. Photo: Wikimedia Commons 

  • Peacock

    Peacock

    Peacock butterflies emerge into the sunshine from their winter sleep in the spring. Photo: © Natural England/Paul Lacey

  • Grayling

    Grayling

    Grayling butterflies require plenty of bare earth for basking, so watch out for them in later summer along the trackways of the Lizard Downs. They are on the wing into […]

  • Small Tortoiseshell

    Small Tortoiseshell

    Small Tortoiseshells usually produce two broods in a year, and so a second-generation of adults emerges in August. Photo: Amanda Scott

  • Common Blue

    Common Blue

    The Common Blue is one of the butterflies counted annually in Butterfly Conservation’s Big Butterfly Count. Photo: Dougy Wright

  • Chamomile Shark

    Chamomile Shark

    We all love the flowers and scent of Chamomile, but so does the caterpillar of the Chamomile Shark moth. Photo: Ray Surridge

  • Ringlet

    Ringlet

    Ringlets may not be as showy as some other butterflies, but they have their own gentle charm. Photo: © Allan Drewitt/Natural England

  • Large Skipper

    Large Skipper

    Watch out for Large Skippers from May to September in meadows, and in woodland rides and glades. Photo: Steve Townsend

  • Galium Carpet

    Galium Carpet

    Watch out round the coast for the prettily-patterned Galium Carpet moth throughout the summer. Although nocturnal, it can be spotted when disturbed from its daytime resting places. Photo: Leon Truscott

  • Marsh Fritillary

    Marsh Fritillary

    This small and delicate butterfly is a protected species due to its serious decline in numbers, but The Lizard is one of their strongholds. Find them on Mullion Cliffs or […]

  • Red Admiral

    Red Admiral

    The migratory Red Admiral butterfly can be spotted from spring until winter in the milder climate of the south-west. Photo: Amanda Scott

  • Small Copper

    Small Copper

    The fast-flying Small Copper is on the wing into autumn; watch out on warmer days for its coppery colours. Photo: Ray Surridge