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| UK Status |
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| Resident |
A species which is continually Resident in the UK with stable breeding populations. |
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| Migrant |
A species which occurs as a Migrant in the UK. It may be able to breed here although they are usually unable to survive our winter months. Migrants are normally reported in the UK every year. |
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| Rare Migrant |
A species which occurs as a Rare Migrant in the UK. It may able to breed here although they are usually unable to survive our winter months. Rare Migrants may not be seen for many years. |
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| Extinct |
A species which is Extinct in the UK, usually as a result of habitat loss. |
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| Introduction |
A species which ocurs in the UK as an accidental introduction. |
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Description
The Small Heath rarely settles more than a meter above ground. They are most often seen flying low to the ground among grass in sunshine. It always settles with Its wings closed as shown in the photo right. Adult butterflies may be seen continuously from late April to September on some sites in southern England but numbers peak throughout the UK in July and August.
The Small Heath is a Priority Species for conservation due to the continued loss of habitat and resulting drop in population.
Habitat
This species occurs on grassland where there are fine grasses especially in dry well-drained situations where the sward is short and sparse. The largest colonies occur on downland, heathland, and coastal dunes. Smaller populations occur in many other locations including roadside verges, waste ground, woodland rides and glades, moorland, and parkland.
Larval Food Plants
The larvae of the Small Heath feed on a wide variety of fine grasses especially fescues (Festuca spp.) meadow-grasses (Poa spp.), and bents (Agrostis spp.).
British Subspecies
The following sub-species of the Small Heath occur in the UK.
 Small Heath - Coenonympha pamphilus pamphilus (Linnaeus, 1758) - Occurs in England, Ireland, Scotland (except the Isle of Rum) and Wales.
Small Heath - Coenonympha pamphilus rhoumensis (Harrison, 1948) - Confined to the Isle of Rum, Scotland.
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| Stock Photography Library |
| We have 13 photographs of the Small Heath in the British Butterflies photo library |
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BB1620 - Small Heath
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BB1619 - Small Heath
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BB1588 - Small Heath
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BB1575 - Small Heath
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BB1574 - Small Heath
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BB1573 - Small Heath
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BB1572 - Small Heath
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BB1402 - Small Heath
DSC_3364.JPG
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| Distribution |
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| This Small Heath is a fairly widespread butterfly which occurs in a wide range of habitat types. Its range has changed little but many colonies have disappeared in recent decades due to loss of habitat through road building large scale housing and industrial developments. |
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| Where to see the Small Heath |
| This Small Heath is a fairly widespread butterfly which occurs in a wide range of habitat types. Its range has changed little but many colonies have disappeared in recent decades due to loss of habitat through road building large scale housing and industrial developments. |
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| Population Trends |
| species status |
the Small Heath is a resident species in Britain |
| population trend1 |
(1995-2004)  down by -29% |
(1976-2004) down by -52% |
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1Fox, R., Asher. J., Brereton. T., Roy, D & Warren, M.
(2006) The State of Butterflies in Britain & Ireland, Pices, Oxford. |
| UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) Status |
| UK BAP status2 |
candidate priority species (link) |
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| 2 For more information about the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) species status, visit www.ukbap.org.uk. |
| IUCN Category Status |
| IUCN category3 |
 near threatened4 |
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3 Fox, R., Warren, M & Brereton, T.
(2007) New Red List of British Butterflies. Butterfly Conservation, Wareham.
4 More information about IUCN categories available here. |
| Find Out More Online* |
| More information about the Small Heath can be found on Peter Eeles excellent UK Butterflies web site. |
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Aberrations and Forms |
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| We currently know of 14 named aberrant forms of the Small Heath. More information about aberrants can be found here. |
 ab. alba - Prüffer (1920) |
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| ab. albata - Goodson (1955) |
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| ab. albescens - Robson & Gardner (1886) |
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| ab. anticastanea - Leeds (1950) |
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| ab. anticrassipuncta - Leeds (1950) |
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| ab. antilacticolor - Leeds (1950) |
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| ab. antirufa - Leeds (1950) |
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| ab. brunnescens - Leeds (1950) |
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| ab. detersa - Verity (1913) |
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| ab. major - Agassiz (1900) |
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| ab. nolkeniana - Strand (1917) |
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| ab. obsoletissima - Leeds (1950) |
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| ab. ocellata - Tutt (1896) |
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| ab. transiens - Caruel (1944) |
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| References |
| The information on this web site comes from a variety of freely available resources including books, academic reports and web sites alongside my own personal observations of butterflies. The species descriptions are currently in the process of being edited (spring 2009) to include new data, recent personal observations and referencing following a major update to the site.
A complete list of references mentioned in the text on this web site is available here. |
| * External Links Disclaimer |
| This web site includes links to information provided by external web sites which are not in any way under the control of www.britishbutterflies.co.uk. We cannot, therefore, be held responsible for the content of external web pages. |
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33-37mm
