1. NORTHUMBERLAND BUTTERFLY IDENTIFICATION GUIDE

2. Northumberland Butterflies:
SECTION A
Northumberland Butterflies:
What is this guide?
This butterfly guide is a tool designed to help beginners in butterfly identification. The species included in the guide are all found throughout Northumberland in varying populations and habitats.
Who can use this guide?
The guide is designed for use from the general public. The questions involved do not require a large amount of scientific knowledge or butterfly expertise. The guide is suited for a wide range of ages for those interested in identifying butterflies they have come across throughout Northumberland.
How to use this guide
When coming across a butterfly within the region of Northumberland, this guide is a quick, go to identification tool. Without requiring the physical capture of specimens the guide only requires the use of distinguishing visual features of the butterflies.
By following through the Yes/No questions in this guide you should eventually come to the species you have found. There are pictures of both the dorsal and ventral sides to each butterfly wing to compare whether the species has correctly been identified.
Further Information regarding Northumberland butterflies
For further information regarding the appearance, distribution, life cycle, behaviour and abundance in Northumberland please visit 1

3. Butterfly Anatomy Dorsal Side Ventral Side (Wall Brown)
White Letter Hairstreak
Eye Spot
Fringe
Margin
Body
Dorsal Side
Ventral Side
Forewing
Hindwing
Dorsal Wing: Refers to the topside of the wings, seen when the butterfly holds its wing open and during flight Ventral Wing: Refers to the underside of the wings, seen when the butterfly holds its wings shut whilst resting on the ground or vegetation etc. Eye Spot: Usually large distinct spots that contain a different coloured centre. Resembles the appearance of a large eye to confuse predators Fringe: The very edge of the wings Margin: Refers to the Forewing: Every butterfly has two forewings, they are the front two wings that usually overlap the hindwings. Shape, size and patterns vary within species Hindwing: Every butterfly has two hindwings, they are the two wings at the back of the butterfly. Wing Veins: In some species, veins in the wing responsible for blood circulation and breathing are clearly visible. They appear as tubular lines running through the length of the wing. 2

4. FIRST QUESTION SECTION A 3 Is the primary colour
Blue/White/Yellow/Green…Section A
Red/Brown/Orange………….. Section B
Holly Blue
SECTION A
Q1: Is the dorsal Wing blue?
· Yes: Go to Q2
· No: Go to Q3
Q2: Is the ventral wing also blue?
· Yes: Holly Blue
· No: Common Blue (male)
Q3: Is the dorsal wing white?
· Yes: Go to Q4
· No: Go to Q8
Q4: Is the ventral pattern plain/uniform?
· Yes: Go to Q5
· No: Go to Q6
Q5: Are the forewing tips and spots solid black rather than grey?
· Yes: Large White
· No: Small White
Q6: Is the dorsal wing marbled black and White?
· Yes: Marbled White
· No: Go to Q7
Male Common Blue
Large White
Small White
Marbled White 3

5. · Yes: Green Veined White · No: Orange Tip · Yes: Green Hairstreak
Q7: Does the ventral wing contain dark green veins?
· Yes: Green Veined White
· No: Orange Tip
Q8: Is the ventral wing green?
· Yes: Green Hairstreak
· No: go to Q9
Q9: Does the dorsal wing have a black margin?
· Yes: Clouded Yellow
· No: Brimstone
Green Veined White
Orange tip
(Male Left)
(Female Right)
Clouded Yellow
Green Hairstreak
Brimstone 4

6. SECTION B
Q1: Are the wings small and short in comparison to a thick, stocky body?
Yes: Go to Q2
No: Go to Q4
Q2: Does the dorsal wing contain orange?
Yes: Go to Q3
No: Dingy Skipper
Q3: Does the orange fade into brown leaving orange blotches?
Yes: Large Skipper
No: Small Skipper
Q4: Does the ventral wing surface contain distinct clear spot/s on either forewing or hindwing?
Yes: Go to Q5
No: Go to Q19
Q5: Is there a blue/purple tint to dorsal wing?
Yes: Go to Q6
No: Go to Q7
Q6: Is the ventral wing grey with a white streak?
Yes: Purple Hairstreak
No: Common Blue (female)
Q7: Does the dorsal wing contain yellow?
Yes: Go to Q8
No: Go to Q9
Dingy Skipper
Large Skipper
Small Skipper
Purple Hairstreak
Common blue (Female) 5

7. 6 Q8: Is the ventral wing grey and well camouflaged against stone?
Yes: Grayling
No: Speckled Wood
Q9: Are the ventral wing spots black?
Yes: Go to Q10
No: Go to Q17
Q10: Does the dorsal wing contain orange?
Yes: Go to Q11
No: Ringlet
Q11: Do the dorsal side have only one spot per wing?
Yes: Go to Q12
No: Go to Q14
Q12: Is the dorsal wing completely orange?
Yes: Small Heath
No: Go to Q13
Q13: Do both the forewing and hindwing contain orange?
Yes: Gatekeeper
No: Meadow Brown
Grayling
Speckled Wood
Ringlet
Small Heath
Gatekeeper
Meadow Brown 6

8. 7 Q14: Do the ventral black spots have a white surrounding/border?
Yes: Go to Q15
No: Go to Q16
Q15: Are the ventral black spots in a uniform line?
Yes: Large Heath
No: Brown Argus
Q16: Does the forewing contain multiple black spots?
Yes: Small Copper
No: Wall Brown
Q17: Is the dorsal primarily orange/black?
Yes: Go to Q18
No: Northern Brown Argus
Q18: Are the forewing tips black and contain white spots?
Yes: Painted Lady
No: Dark Green Fritillary
Large Heath
Brown Argus
Small Copper
Wall Brown
Dark Green Fritillary
Northern Brown Argus 7
Painted Lady

9. 8 Q19: Is the ventral wing primarily black? Yes: Go to Q20
No: Go to Q22
Q20: Do both wing sides have a large creamy white margin/fringe?
Yes: Camberwell Beauty
No: Go to Q21
Q21: Is there four large blue eyespots?
Yes: Peacock
No: Small tortoiseshell
Q22: Is the ventral wing pattern plain brown with a white streak/line?
Yes: White Letter Hairstreak
No: Go to Q23
Q23: Does the dorsal wing have white spots?
Yes: Red Admiral
No: Comma
Camberwell Beauty
Peacock
Small Tortoiseshell
White Letter Hairstreak
Red Admiral
Comma 8

10. Butterfly Index
Brimstone Brown Argus Camberwell Beauty Clouded Yellow Comma Common Blue (Male) Common Blue (Female) . 5 Dark Green Fritillary Dingy Skipper Gatekeeper Grayling Green Hairstreak Green Veined White Holly Blue Large Heath Large Skipper Large White Marbled White Meadow Brown Northern Brown Argus Orange Tip Painted Lady Peacock Purple Hairstreak Red Admiral Ringlet Small Copper Small Heath Small Skipper Small Tortoiseshell Small White Speckled Wood Wall Brown White Letter Hairstreak 9

11. References: 10