British Butterflies - An Online Guide by Steven Cheshire
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The lifecycle of a butterfly
A butterflies lifecycle consists of four main stages, each with an important role to play. These are Egg (Ova) - Caterpillar (Larvae) - Chrysalis (Pupae) - Adult (Imago).

Each stage requires specific conditions in order to survive. If one of these life-stages lacks the required conditions, this may result in local extinctions of breeding colonies.

Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) form part of a complex food chain which is key to the survival of all plants and animals. Butterflies feed on plants, flowers and decaying matter which provide essential sugars and minerals. Butterflies, moths and their life stages are themselves food for a diverse range of creatures and plants including other insects, birds, dragonflies, spiders and insect eating plants such as Sundew.

Each species of butterfly has a specific lifecycle which is timed to coincide with the availability of the food plants upon which they depend. The effects of global warming may already be upsetting this delicate balance as food plants react differently to butterflies as temperature changes occur.
  Lifecycle & Flight Charts  
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UK distribution maps with flight times:
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White-letter Hairstreak from Ova to Adult Butterfly
The White-letter Hairstreak is a widespread species in Britain but is rarely seen. The adult butterfly lays its eggs on Elm which over the last few decades has suffered dramatically from Dutch Elm Disease. The loss of our Elm trees in the wild has resulted in a dramatic drop in the numbers of White-letter Hairstreak butterflies. It survives now by laying its eggs in late summer on Elm sucker growth. The eggs over winter and hatch the following spring. The young larvae feed on the seeds and leaf buds of Elm. It is at this stage that the White-letter Hairstreak is easiest to find... in its larval form. As the larvae grows, it feeds on leaves of the Elm tree.

Just prior to pupation, the larvae turns a red/brown translucent colour and stops feeding. It attached itself to a leaf or twig using a silken pad and silk girdle to hold itself in place as a pupa. The pupae is brown in colour but changes as it nears the time for the adult butterfly to emerge. The wings become darker through the pupae case and the body lighter.

The butterfly emerges in June and can be seen if you are really lucky until late July feeding on Privet and Bramble flowers.

Find out more about the White-letter Hairstreak
awaiting photo
Ova Larva  
Pupa Pupa just prior to emergence Adult
Purple Hairstreak from Ova to Adult Butterfly

The Purple Hairstreak is a species of Oak Woodland. The adult butterflies lay their eggs on leaf and bud scars during mid to late summer on Oak trees. The egg over winters in this position and only hatches when the oak buds begin to swell during the following spring. Initially the tiny caterpillar feeds within the oak buds.

As the caterpillar grows, it leaves the Oak buds and feeds on the fresh leaves. By Early summer, the caterpillar is ready to pupate. Pupation takes place underground so the caterpillar has to crawl often from the top of an Oak tree to get to ground level before pupating. In the wild, there is thought to be some relationship with ants during the larval and pupal stages.

Adult butterflies begin to emerge as early June put peak in numbers during July where they can often be seen flying around the tops of Oak trees.

Find out more about the Purple Hairstreak
awaiting photo
Ova Larva  
Pupa Pupa just prior to emergence Adult
Small Tortoiseshell butterfly laying eggs

This butterfly over wintered (hibernated) before laying its eggs in early spring on common Stinging Nettle. These offspring will produce the butterflies we will see during the summer months.

The female Small Tortoiseshell lays her eggs in small clusters on the underside of fresh spring growth of common Stinging Nettle. The eggs stay green until the developing larvae (caterpillars) in side are ready to leave the egg. At this point, the eggs darken and the tiny larvae feed on the shells of their eggs before feeding on Nettles.

Find out more about the Small Tortoiseshell
Small Tortoiseshell laying eggs Small Tortoiseshell laying eggs Small Tortoiseshell Ova
Adult female Ovipositing Detail Adult female Ovipositing Freshly laid egg cluster
Small Tortoiseshell Ova and emerging Larvae awaiting photo awaiting photo
Eggs begin to hatch    
White Admiral larvae grows and pupates

Unlike the Small Tortoiseshell, the larvae of White Admiral over winters in a hibernaculum usually consisting of a dried rolled Honeysuckle leaf. In the spring as fresh leaf growth appears on the shoots of Honeysuckle, the small, brown, spiky larvae begins to feed. As it grows it changes colour to green before pupating.

Like most pupae (Chrysalis), the pupae of the White Admiral looks like a leaf and in the wild are almost impossible to find without extensive knowledge about the preferred places for pupation of each butterfly species. This camouflage is essential for the survival of the individual during the pupal stage. Only when the butterfly developing inside the pupae is close to hatching from the pupa does the pupa change colour, revealing the wing pattern of the butterfly inside.

Find out more about the White Admiral
awaiting photo White Admiral Larvae White Admiral Larvae
Ova Larva Larva
White Admiral Pupae White Admiral Pupae awaiting photo
Pupa Pupa just prior to emergence Adult
Main Content More Content Further Information
Species List - Species List (text only) Photo Image Library Amphibians - Reptiles
Aberrant Forms - Known Aberrants List by Species Free documents and guides to download Dragonflies and Damselflies
  Distribution Maps & Flight Times   Gardening for Butterflies   Moths  
Lifecycle Charts - Illustrated Lifecycle Guide to Rearing British Butterflies Wild Flowers - Orchids
Protected Species & UK Law - Butterfly Collectors Technical Terms Recommended Web Links
Butterflies in Winter List of References - Book Reviews