UK Butterflies

Building a Community of Responsible Butterfly Enthusiasts in Britain & Ireland

Taxonomic Listing

The taxonomy (classification) of butterflies considers a number of characteristics, such as those described in Ford (1945), Higgins (1975), Ackery (1984) and Emmet (1990), including:

Alignment with the Checklist

The taxonomy of the butterflies of Britain and Ireland as used on this website is defined in Checklist of the Lepidoptera of the British Isles; Agassiz, Beavan & Heckford (2024). The UK Butterflies website builds on this checklist and any differences are noted here. In addition, we include a summary of authorities that first described the taxa in the checklist.

Like its predecessors, Bradley & Fletcher (1979), Bradley (1998) and Bradley (2000), the most recent checklist provides a unique reference for each species, which also implies a sequence, where the more primitive species are listed first. Appendix B of the checklist also lists questionable species (those with the prefix 'B' in the number provided) and these are also included below. However, no relative position within the checklist is given for these, and so one has been provided here.

Key to Forms

Sexual dimorphism
Seasonal dimorphism

Key to Species Status

The status of each species is taken from Eeles (2019) and Eeles (2023).

R Resident or Regular Migrant
E Extinct
M Rare Migrant
V Vagrant
U Uncertain
A Adventive
Q Questionable

FamilySubfamilyTribeGenusSubgenusSpeciesSubspeciesFormVernacular NameChecklist No.
PapilionidaeParnassiinaeLuehdorfiiniZerynthiaZerynthiarumina  Spanish Festoon A56.0001
PapilionidaeParnassiinaeLuehdorfiiniZerynthiaZerynthiapolyxena  Southern Festoon A56.0002
PapilionidaeParnassiinaeParnassiiniParnassius phoebus  Small Apollo A56.0003
PapilionidaeParnassiinaeParnassiiniParnassius apollo  Apollo V56.001
PapilionidaePapilioninaeGraphiiniIphiclides podalirius  Scarce Swallowtail V56.002
PapilionidaePapilioninaePapilioniniPapilio machaonssp. britannicus Swallowtail R56.003
PapilionidaePapilioninaePapilioniniPapiliomachaonssp. gorganus   
PapilionidaePapilioninaePapilioniniPapilio glaucus  Tiger Swallowtail A56.0031
HesperiidaePyrginae Erynnis tagesssp. tages Dingy Skipper R57.001
HesperiidaePyrginaeErynnistagesssp. baynesi   
HesperiidaePyrginae Carcharodus alceae  Mallow Skipper A57.0011
HesperiidaePyrginae Pyrgus malvae  Grizzled Skipper R57.002
HesperiidaePyrginae Pyrgus armoricanus  Oberthür's Grizzled Skipper A57.0021
HesperiidaeHeteropterinae Heteropterus morpheus  Large Chequered Skipper M57.003
HesperiidaeHeteropterinae Carterocephalus palaemon  Chequered Skipper R57.004
HesperiidaeHesperiinae Thymelicus lineola  Essex Skipper R57.005
HesperiidaeHesperiinae Thymelicus sylvestris  Small Skipper R57.006
HesperiidaeHesperiinae Thymelicus acteon  Lulworth Skipper R57.007
HesperiidaeHesperiinae Hylephila phyleus  Fiery Skipper A57.0071
HesperiidaeHesperiinae Hesperia comma  Silver-spotted Skipper R57.008
HesperiidaeHesperiinae Saliana longirostris  Shy Saliana A57.0081
HesperiidaeHesperiinae Ochlodes sylvanus  Large Skipper R57.009
PieridaeDismorphiinaeLeptideiniLeptidea sinapis  Wood White R58.001
PieridaeDismorphiinaeLeptideiniLeptidea juvernica  Cryptic Wood White R58.002
PieridaePierinaeAnthochariniAnthocharis cardaminesssp. britannica Orange-tip R58.003
PieridaePierinaeAnthochariniAnthochariscardaminesssp. hibernica   
PieridaePierinaeAnthochariniEuchloe crameri  Dappled White V58.004
PieridaePierinaePieriniAporia crataegi  Black-veined White E58.005
PieridaePierinaePieriniPieris brassicae  Large White R58.006
PieridaePierinaePieriniPieris rapae  Small White R58.007
PieridaePierinaePieriniPieris napissp. sabellicae Green-veined White R58.008
PieridaePierinaePieriniPierisnapissp. britannica   
PieridaePierinaePieriniPierisnapissp. thomsoni   
PieridaePierinaePieriniPontia daplidice  Bath White M58.009
PieridaeColiadinaeColiadiniColias croceus f. croceusClouded Yellow R58.010
PieridaeColiadinaeColiadiniColiascroceus f. helice  
PieridaeColiadinaeColiadiniColias palaeno  Moorland Clouded Yellow QB39
PieridaeColiadinaeColiadiniColias hyale  Pale Clouded Yellow M58.011
PieridaeColiadinaeColiadiniColias alfacariensis  Berger's Clouded Yellow M58.012
PieridaeColiadinaeGonepteryginiGonepteryx rhamnissp. rhamni Brimstone R58.013
PieridaeColiadinaeGonepteryginiGonepteryxrhamnissp. gravesi   
PieridaeColiadinaeGonepteryginiGonepteryx cleopatra  Cleopatra V58.014
NymphalidaeDanainaeDanainiDanaus plexippus  Monarch V59.001
NymphalidaeSatyrinaeElymniiniLasiommata megera  Wall R59.002
NymphalidaeSatyrinaeElymniiniLasiommata maera  Large Wall A59.0021
NymphalidaeSatyrinaeElymniiniPararge aegeriassp. tircis Speckled Wood R59.003
NymphalidaeSatyrinaeElymniiniParargeaegeriassp. oblita   
NymphalidaeSatyrinaeElymniiniParargeaegeriassp. insula   
NymphalidaeSatyrinaeCoenonymphiniCoenonympha tulliassp. davus Large Heath R59.004
NymphalidaeSatyrinaeCoenonymphiniCoenonymphatulliassp. polydama   
NymphalidaeSatyrinaeCoenonymphiniCoenonymphatulliassp. scotica   
NymphalidaeSatyrinaeCoenonymphiniCoenonympha pamphilusssp. pamphilus Small Heath R59.005
NymphalidaeSatyrinaeCoenonymphiniCoenonymphapamphilusssp. rhoumensis   
NymphalidaeSatyrinaeErebiiniErebia ligea  Arran Brown U59.006
NymphalidaeSatyrinaeErebiiniErebia epiphronssp. mnemon Mountain Ringlet R59.007
NymphalidaeSatyrinaeErebiiniErebiaepiphronssp. scotica   
NymphalidaeSatyrinaeErebiiniErebia aethiopsssp. aethiops Scotch Argus R59.008
NymphalidaeSatyrinaeErebiiniErebiaaethiopsssp. caledonia   
NymphalidaeSatyrinaeErebiiniErebia alberganus  Almond-eyed Ringlet A59.0081
NymphalidaeSatyrinaeManioliniAphantopus hyperantus  Ringlet R59.009
NymphalidaeSatyrinaeManioliniManiola jurtinassp. splendida Meadow Brown R59.010
NymphalidaeSatyrinaeManioliniManiolajurtinassp. cassiteridum   
NymphalidaeSatyrinaeManioliniManiolajurtinassp. iernes   
NymphalidaeSatyrinaeManioliniManiolajurtinassp. insularis   
NymphalidaeSatyrinaeManioliniPyronia tithonusssp. britanniae Gatekeeper R59.011
NymphalidaeSatyrinaeMelanargiiniMelanargia galatheassp. serena Marbled White R59.012
NymphalidaeSatyrinaeSatyriniHipparchiaParahipparchiasemelessp. semele Grayling R59.013
NymphalidaeSatyrinaeSatyriniHipparchiaParahipparchiasemelessp. scota   
NymphalidaeSatyrinaeSatyriniHipparchiaParahipparchiasemelessp. thyone   
NymphalidaeSatyrinaeSatyriniHipparchiaParahipparchiasemelessp. atlantica   
NymphalidaeSatyrinaeSatyriniHipparchiaParahipparchiasemelessp. clarensis   
NymphalidaeSatyrinaeSatyriniHipparchiaParahipparchiasemelessp. hibernica   
NymphalidaeSatyrinaeSatyriniHipparchiaHipparchiafagi  Woodland Grayling A59.0131
NymphalidaeSatyrinaeSatyriniArethusana arethusa  False Grayling A59.0132
NymphalidaeSatyrinaeSatyriniChazara briseis  Hermit A59.0133
NymphalidaeMorphinaeBrassoliniCaligo illioneus  Illioneus Giant Owl A59.0134
NymphalidaeMorphinaeBrassoliniOpsiphanes tamarindi  Tamarindi Owlet A59.0135
NymphalidaeMorphinaeBrassoliniOpsiphanes cassiae  Cassia's Owl-butterfly A59.0136
NymphalidaeHeliconiinaeHeliconiiniDryas julia  Julia A59.0137
NymphalidaeHeliconiinaeArgynniniBoloriaClossianaeuphrosyne  Pearl-bordered Fritillary R59.014
NymphalidaeHeliconiinaeArgynniniBoloriaClossianaselene  Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary R59.015
NymphalidaeHeliconiinaeArgynniniBoloriaClossianadia  Weaver's Fritillary A59.0151
NymphalidaeHeliconiinaeArgynniniIssoriaIssorialathonia  Queen of Spain Fritillary M59.016
NymphalidaeHeliconiinaeArgynniniArgynnisArgynnispaphia f. paphiaSilver-washed Fritillary R59.017
NymphalidaeHeliconiinaeArgynniniArgynnisArgynnispaphia f. valesina  
NymphalidaeHeliconiinaeArgynniniArgynnisPandorianapandora  Cardinal V59.018
NymphalidaeHeliconiinaeArgynniniSpeyeria aglaja  Dark Green Fritillary R59.019
NymphalidaeHeliconiinaeArgynniniSpeyeria cybele  Great Spangled Fritillary A59.0201
NymphalidaeHeliconiinaeArgynniniFabriciana adippe  High Brown Fritillary R59.020
NymphalidaeHeliconiinaeArgynniniFabriciana niobe  Niobe Fritillary QB40
NymphalidaeLimenitidinaeLimenitidiniLimenitis camilla  White Admiral R59.021
NymphalidaeApaturinaeApaturiniApatura iris  Purple Emperor R59.022
NymphalidaeApaturinaeApaturiniApatura ilia f. iliaLesser Purple Emperor QB41
NymphalidaeApaturinaeApaturiniApaturailia f. clytie  
NymphalidaeNymphalinaeNymphaliniColobura dirce  Zebra A59.0221
NymphalidaeNymphalinaeNymphaliniVanessa atalanta  Red Admiral R59.023
NymphalidaeNymphalinaeNymphaliniVanessa cardui  Painted Lady R59.024
NymphalidaeNymphalinaeNymphaliniVanessa virginiensis  American Painted Lady V59.025
NymphalidaeNymphalinaeNymphaliniVanessa indica  Indian Red Admiral A59.0251
NymphalidaeNymphalinaeNymphaliniHypanartia lethe  Small Brown Shoemaker A59.0252
NymphalidaeNymphalinaeNymphaliniAglais io  Peacock R59.026
NymphalidaeNymphalinaeNymphaliniAglais urticae  Small Tortoiseshell R59.027
NymphalidaeNymphalinaeNymphaliniNymphalis antiopa  Camberwell Beauty M59.028
NymphalidaeNymphalinaeNymphaliniNymphalis polychloros  Large Tortoiseshell M59.029
NymphalidaeNymphalinaeNymphaliniNymphalis xanthomelas  Scarce Tortoiseshell M59.030
NymphalidaeNymphalinaeNymphaliniPolygonia c-album f. c-albumComma R59.031
NymphalidaeNymphalinaeNymphaliniPolygoniac-album f. hutchinsoni  
NymphalidaeNymphalinaeNymphaliniAraschnia levana f. levanaEuropean Map U59.032
NymphalidaeNymphalinaeNymphaliniAraschnialevana f. prorsa  
NymphalidaeNymphalinaeJunoniiniJunonia oenone  Blue Pansy A59.0321
NymphalidaeNymphalinaeJunoniiniJunonia villida  Albin's Hampstead Eye QB42
NymphalidaeNymphalinaeMelitaeiniEuphydryas aurinia  Marsh Fritillary R59.033
NymphalidaeNymphalinaeMelitaeiniMelitaea cinxia  Glanville Fritillary R59.034
NymphalidaeNymphalinaeMelitaeiniMelitaea didyma  Spotted Fritillary U59.035
NymphalidaeNymphalinaeMelitaeiniMelitaea athalia  Heath Fritillary R59.036
RiodinidaeRiodininaeHameariniHamearis lucina  Duke of Burgundy R60.001
LycaenidaeLycaeninaeLycaeniniLycaena phlaeasssp. eleus Small Copper R61.001
LycaenidaeLycaeninaeLycaeniniLycaenaphlaeasssp. hibernica   
LycaenidaeLycaeninaeLycaeniniLycaena disparssp. dispar Large Copper E61.002
LycaenidaeLycaeninaeLycaeniniLycaenadisparssp. rutilus   
LycaenidaeLycaeninaeLycaeniniLycaenadisparssp. batavus   
LycaenidaeLycaeninaeLycaeniniLycaena virgaureae  Scarce Copper QB43
LycaenidaeLycaeninaeLycaeniniLycaena tityrus  Sooty Copper A61.0022
LycaenidaeLycaeninaeLycaeniniLycaena alciphronssp. gordius Purple-shot Copper A61.0023
LycaenidaeLycaeninaeLycaeniniLycaena hippothoe  Purple-edged Copper QB44
LycaenidaeTheclinaeThecliniThecla betulae  Brown Hairstreak R61.003
LycaenidaeTheclinaeThecliniFavonius quercus  Purple Hairstreak R61.004
LycaenidaeTheclinaeThecliniStrymon melinus  Gray Hairstreak A61.0041
LycaenidaeTheclinaeDeudoriginiRapala maneassp. schistacea Slate Flash QB47
LycaenidaeTheclinaeDeudoriginiDeudorix antalus  Brown Playboy A61.0045
LycaenidaeTheclinaeEumaeiniCallophrys rubi  Green Hairstreak R61.005
LycaenidaeTheclinaeEumaeiniSatyrium w-album  White-letter Hairstreak R61.006
LycaenidaeTheclinaeEumaeiniSatyrium pruni  Black Hairstreak R61.007
LycaenidaeTheclinaeEumaeiniSatyrium spini  Blue Spot Hairstreak QB45
LycaenidaeTheclinaeEumaeiniSatyrium ilicis  Ilex Hairstreak QB46
LycaenidaePolyommatinaePolyommatiniLampides boeticus  Long-tailed Blue M61.008
LycaenidaePolyommatinaePolyommatiniCacyreus marshalli  Geranium Bronze A61.0081
LycaenidaePolyommatinaePolyommatiniLeptotes pirithous  Lang's Short-tailed Blue M61.009
LycaenidaePolyommatinaePolyommatiniCupidoCupidominimus  Small Blue R61.010
LycaenidaePolyommatinaePolyommatiniCupidoEveresargiades  Short-tailed Blue M61.011
LycaenidaePolyommatinaePolyommatiniCelastrina argiolusssp. britanna Holly Blue R61.012
LycaenidaePolyommatinaePolyommatiniPhengaris arionssp. arion Large Blue R61.013
LycaenidaePolyommatinaePolyommatiniPhengarisarionssp. eutyphron   
LycaenidaePolyommatinaePolyommatiniGlaucopsyche alexis  Green-underside Blue A61.0131
LycaenidaePolyommatinaePolyommatiniPlebejus argusssp. argus Silver-studded Blue R61.014
LycaenidaePolyommatinaePolyommatiniPlebejusargusssp. cretaceus   
LycaenidaePolyommatinaePolyommatiniPlebejusargusssp. masseyi   
LycaenidaePolyommatinaePolyommatiniPlebejusargusssp. caernensis   
LycaenidaePolyommatinaePolyommatiniAricia agestis  Brown Argus R61.015
LycaenidaePolyommatinaePolyommatiniAricia artaxerxesssp. artaxerxes Northern Brown Argus R61.016
LycaenidaePolyommatinaePolyommatiniAriciaartaxerxesssp. salmacis   
LycaenidaePolyommatinaePolyommatiniCyaniris semiargus  Mazarine Blue E61.017
LycaenidaePolyommatinaePolyommatiniPolyommatusPolyommatusicarusssp. icarus Common Blue R61.018
LycaenidaePolyommatinaePolyommatiniPolyommatusPolyommatusicarusssp. mariscolore   
LycaenidaePolyommatinaePolyommatiniPolyommatusPolyommatusdorylas  Turquoise Blue QB48
LycaenidaePolyommatinaePolyommatiniPolyommatusLysandrabellargus  Adonis Blue R61.019
LycaenidaePolyommatinaePolyommatiniPolyommatusLysandracoridon  Chalk Hill Blue R61.020