This page lists the larval foodplants used by British and Irish butterflies. The name of each foodplant links to a Google search and secondary food sources are greyed out. The information on this page is taken from Life Cycles of British and Irish Butterflies (Eeles, 2019). Plant names are taken from New Flora of the British Isles, 4th edition (Stace, 2019).
Butterfly Name | Plant Name | Plant Scientific Name | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|
Adonis Blue | Horseshoe Vetch | Hippocrepis comosa | |
American Painted Lady | thistles | Carduus spp. and Cirsium spp. | |
Bath White | Cabbage family | Brassicaceae | |
Berger's Clouded Yellow | Horseshoe Vetch | Hippocrepis comosa | |
Black Hairstreak | Blackthorn | Prunus spinosa | |
cherries | Prunus spp. | ||
Black-veined White | Blackthorn | Prunus spinosa | |
hawthorns | Crataegus spp. | ||
Brimstone | Alder Buckthorn | Frangula alnus | Acid soils |
Buckthorn | Rhamnus cathartica | Calcareous soils | |
Brown Argus | Common Rock-rose | Helianthemum nummularium | Chalk and limestone grassland |
Common Stork's-bill | Erodium cicutarium | Other habitats | |
Dove's-foot Crane's-bill | Geranium molle | Other habitats | |
Brown Hairstreak | Blackthorn | Prunus spinosa | |
cherries | Prunus spp. | ||
Camberwell Beauty | birches | Betula spp. | |
elms | Ulmus spp. | ||
poplars | Populus spp. | ||
sallows | Salix spp. | ||
willows | Salix spp. | ||
Chalk Hill Blue | Horseshoe Vetch | Hippocrepis comosa | |
Chequered Skipper | Purple Moor-grass | Molinia caerulea | |
Clouded Yellow | clovers | Trifolium spp. | |
Common Bird's-foot-trefoil | Lotus corniculatus | ||
Horseshoe Vetch | Hippocrepis comosa | ||
Comma | Common Nettle | Urtica dioica | |
currants | Ribes spp. | ||
elms | Ulmus spp. | ||
Hop | Humulus lupulus | ||
willows | Salix spp. | ||
Common Blue | Black Medick | Medicago lupulina | |
Common Bird's-foot-trefoil | Lotus corniculatus | ||
Common Restharrow | Ononis repens | ||
Greater Bird's-foot-trefoil | Lotus pedunculatus | ||
Lesser Trefoil | Trifolium dubium | ||
Cryptic Wood White | Common Bird's-foot-trefoil | Lotus corniculatus | |
Greater Bird's-foot-trefoil | Lotus pedunculatus | ||
Meadow Vetchling | Lathyrus pratensis | ||
Tufted Vetch | Vicia cracca | ||
Dark Green Fritillary | Common Dog-violet | Viola riviniana | |
Hairy Violet | Viola hirta | ||
Marsh Violet | Viola palustris | ||
Dingy Skipper | Common Bird's-foot-trefoil | Lotus corniculatus | |
Greater Bird's-foot-trefoil | Lotus pedunculatus | ||
Horseshoe Vetch | Hippocrepis comosa | ||
Duke of Burgundy | Cowslip | Primula veris | |
False Oxlip | Primula veris x vulgaris | ||
Primrose | Primula vulgaris | ||
Essex Skipper | Cock's-foot | Dactylis glomerata | |
Common Couch | Elytrigia repens | ||
Creeping Soft-grass | Holcus mollis | ||
False Brome | Brachypodium sylvaticum | ||
Meadow Foxtail | Alopecurus pratensis | ||
Timothy | Phleum pratense | ||
Tor-grass | Brachypodium rupestre | ||
Gatekeeper | bents | Agrostis spp. | |
fescues | Festuca spp. | ||
meadow-grasses | Poa spp. | ||
Glanville Fritillary | Buck's-horn Plantain | Plantago coronopus | |
Ribwort Plantain | Plantago lanceolata | ||
Grayling | Bristle Bent | Agrostis curtisii | Heathland |
Early Hair-grass | Aira praecox | Calcareous soils | |
Marram | Ammophila arenaria | Coastal sites | |
Red Fescue | Festuca rubra | Calcareous soils | |
Sheep's-fescue | Festuca ovina | Calcareous soils | |
Tufted Hair-grass | Deschampsia cespitosa | ||
Green Hairstreak | Alder Buckthorn | Frangula alnus | Woodland |
Bilberry | Vaccinium myrtillus | Boggy habitat | |
brambles | Rubus spp. | Woodland | |
Broom | Cytisus scoparius | Heathland | |
Common Bird's-foot-trefoil | Lotus corniculatus | Calcareous soils | |
Common Rock-rose | Helianthemum nummularium | Calcareous soils | |
Cross-leaved Heath | Erica tetralix | Heathland | |
Dogwood | Cornus sanguinea | Calcareous soils | |
Dyer's Greenweed | Genista tinctoria | Heathland | |
Gorse | Ulex europeaus | Heathland | |
Green-veined White | Charlock | Sinapis arvensis | |
Cuckooflower | Cardamine pratensis | ||
Garlic Mustard | Alliaria petiolata | ||
Hedge Mustard | Sisymbrium officinale | ||
Large Bitter-cress | Cardamine amara | ||
Nasturtium | Tropaeolum majus | ||
Water-cress | Nasturtium officinale | ||
Wild Cabbage | Brassica oleracea var. oleracea | ||
Wild Radish | Raphanus raphanistrum ssp. raphanistrum | ||
Grizzled Skipper | Agrimony | Agrimonia eupatoria | |
Barren Strawberry | Potentilla sterilis | ||
brambles | Rubus spp. | ||
Creeping Cinquefoil | Potentilla reptans | ||
Dog-rose | Rosa canina | ||
Raspberry | Rubus idaeus | ||
Salad Burnet | Poterium sanguisorba ssp. sanguisorba | ||
Silverweed | Potentilla anserina | ||
Tormentil | Potentilla erecta | ||
Wild Strawberry | Fragaria vesca | ||
Wood Avens | Geum urbanum | ||
Heath Fritillary | Common Cow-wheat | Melampyrum pratense | |
Foxglove | Digitalis purpurea | Post-hibernation larvae | |
Germander Speedwell | Veronica chamaedrys | Post-hibernation larvae | |
Ribwort Plantain | Plantago lanceolata | Unimproved grassland | |
High Brown Fritillary | Common Dog-violet | Viola riviniana | |
Hairy Violet | Viola hirta | Limestone sites | |
Heath Dog-violet | Viola canina | ||
Pale Dog-violet | Viola lactea | ||
Holly Blue | brambles | Rubus spp. | Summer brood |
buckthorns | Frangula alnus and Rhamnus cathartica | Summer brood | |
Dogwood | Cornus sanguinea | Spring brood | |
Gorse | Ulex europeaus | Spring brood | |
Holly | Ilex spp. | Spring brood | |
Ivy | Hedera spp. | Summer brood | |
snowberries | Symphoricarpos spp. | Summer brood | |
Spindle | Euonymus europaeus | Spring brood | |
Large Blue | Wild Marjoram | Origanum vulgare | |
Wild Thyme | Thymus polytrichus | ||
Large Chequered Skipper | Purple Moor-grass | Molinia caerulea | |
Large Copper | Water Dock | Rumex hydrolapathum | |
Large Heath | Common Cottongrass | Eriophorum angustifolium | |
Hare's-tail Cottongrass | Eriophorum vaginatum | ||
Jointed Rush | Juncus articulatus | ||
Large Skipper | Cock's-foot | Dactylis glomerata | |
False Brome | Brachypodium sylvaticum | ||
Purple Moor-grass | Molinia caerulea | ||
Tor-grass | Brachypodium rupestre | ||
Wood Small-reed | Calamagrostis epigejoss | ||
Large Tortoiseshell | Aspen | Populus tremula | |
elms | Ulmus spp. | ||
poplars | Populus spp. | ||
sallows | Salix spp. | ||
willows | Salix spp. | ||
Large White | Cabbage family | Brassicaceae | |
Nasturtium | Tropaeolum majus | ||
Sea-kale | Crambe maritima | On the coast | |
Wild Mignonette | Reseda lutea | ||
Long-tailed Blue | Bladder-senna | Colutea arborescens | |
Broad-leaved Everlasting-pea | Lathyrus latifolius | ||
Broom | Cytisus scoparius | ||
Lulworth Skipper | Tor-grass | Brachypodium rupestre | |
Marbled White | Cock's-foot | Dactylis glomerata | |
Red Fescue | Festuca rubra | Young larvae | |
Sheep's-fescue | Festuca ovina | Young larvae | |
Timothy | Phleum pratense | ||
Tor-grass | Brachypodium rupestre | ||
Yorkshire-fog | Holcus lanatus | ||
Marsh Fritillary | Devil's-bit Scabious | Succisa pratensis | |
Field Scabious | Knautia arvensis | ||
Small Scabious | Scabiosa columbaria | ||
Mazarine Blue | Red Clover | Trifolium pratense | |
Meadow Brown | bents | Agrostis spp. | Young larvae |
Cock's-foot | Dactylis glomerata | ||
Downy Oat-grass | Avenula pubescens | ||
False Brome | Brachypodium sylvaticum | ||
fescues | Festuca spp. | Young larvae | |
meadow-grasses | Poa spp. | Young larvae | |
Monarch | milkweeds | Asclepias spp. | |
Mountain Ringlet | Mat-grass | Nardus stricta | |
Sheep's-fescue | Festuca ovina | ||
Northern Brown Argus | Common Rock-rose | Helianthemum nummularium | |
Orange-tip | Charlock | Sinapis arvensis | |
Cuckooflower | Cardamine pratensis | ||
Dame's-violet | Hesperis matronalis | ||
Garlic Mustard | Alliaria petiolata | ||
Hairy Rock-cress | Arabis hirsuta | ||
Hedge Mustard | Sisymbrium officinale | ||
Honesty | Lunaria annua | ||
Large Bitter-cress | Cardamine amara | ||
Turnip | Brassica rapa ssp. rapa | ||
Winter-cress | Barbarea vulgaris | ||
Painted Lady | burdocks | Arctium spp. | |
Common Nettle | Urtica dioica | ||
mallows | Malva spp. | ||
thistles | Carduus spp. and Cirsium spp. | ||
Viper's-bugloss | Echium vulgare | ||
Pale Clouded Yellow | clovers | Trifolium spp. | |
Lucerne | Medicago sativa ssp. sativa | ||
Peacock | Common Nettle | Urtica dioica | |
Hop | Humulus lupulus | ||
Small Nettle | Urtica urens | ||
Pearl-bordered Fritillary | Common Dog-violet | Viola riviniana | |
Heath Dog-violet | Viola canina | ||
Marsh Violet | Viola palustris | Northern sites | |
Purple Emperor | Crack-willow | Salix × fragilis | |
Goat Willow | Salix caprea | ||
Grey Willow | Salix cinerea | ||
Purple Hairstreak | Evergreen Oak | Quercus ilex | |
Pedunculate Oak | Quercus robur | ||
Sessile Oak | Quercus petraea | ||
Turkey Oak | Quercus cerris | ||
Queen of Spain Fritillary | Field Pansy | Viola arvensis | |
Wild Pansy | Viola tricolor | ||
Red Admiral | Common Nettle | Urtica dioica | |
Hop | Humulus lupulus | ||
Pellitory-of-the-wall | Parietaria judaica | ||
Small Nettle | Urtica urens | ||
Ringlet | Cock's-foot | Dactylis glomerata | |
Common Couch | Elytrigia repens | ||
False Brome | Brachypodium sylvaticum | ||
meadow-grasses | Poa spp. | ||
Tufted Hair-grass | Deschampsia cespitosa | ||
Scarce Tortoiseshell | sallows | Salix spp. | |
Scotch Argus | Blue Moor-grass | Sesleria caerulea | |
Cock's-foot | Dactylis glomerata | ||
Common Bent | Agrostis capillaris | ||
Common Couch | Elytrigia repens | ||
Glaucous Sedge | Carex flacca | ||
Purple Moor-grass | Molinia caerulea | ||
Sheep's-fescue | Festuca ovina | ||
Sweet Vernal-grass | Anthoxanthum odoratum | ||
Tufted Hair-grass | Deschampsia cespitosa | ||
Wavy Hair-grass | Deschampsia flexuosa | ||
Short-tailed Blue | Common Bird's-foot-trefoil | Lotus corniculatus | |
Gorse | Ulex europeaus | ||
Silver-spotted Skipper | Sheep's-fescue | Festuca ovina | |
Silver-studded Blue | Black Medick | Medicago lupulina | Great Orme |
Common Bird's-foot-trefoil | Lotus corniculatus | Great Orme, Portland | |
Common Rock-rose | Helianthemum nummularium | Great Orme, Portland | |
Gorse | Ulex europeaus | Heathland | |
heathers | Calluna and Erica spp. | Heathland | |
Hoary Rock-rose | Helianthemum oelandicum | Great Orme | |
Horseshoe Vetch | Hippocrepis comosa | Portland | |
Silver-washed Fritillary | Common Dog-violet | Viola riviniana | |
Small Blue | Kidney Vetch | Anthyllis vulneraria | |
Small Copper | Broad-leaved Dock | Rumex obtusifolius | |
Common Sorrel | Rumex acetosa | ||
Sheep's Sorrel | Rumex acetosella | ||
Small Heath | bents | Agrostis spp. | |
fescues | Festuca spp. | ||
meadow-grasses | Poa spp. | ||
Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary | Common Dog-violet | Viola riviniana | |
Marsh Violet | Viola palustris | ||
Small Skipper | Cock's-foot | Dactylis glomerata | |
Creeping Soft-grass | Holcus mollis | ||
False Brome | Brachypodium sylvaticum | ||
Meadow Foxtail | Alopecurus pratensis | ||
Timothy | Phleum pratense | ||
Yorkshire-fog | Holcus lanatus | ||
Small Tortoiseshell | Common Nettle | Urtica dioica | |
Small Nettle | Urtica urens | ||
Small White | Cabbage family | Brassicaceae | |
Nasturtium | Tropaeolum majus | ||
Sea-kale | Crambe maritima | On the coast | |
Wild Mignonette | Reseda lutea | ||
Speckled Wood | Cock's-foot | Dactylis glomerata | |
Common Couch | Elytrigia repens | ||
False Brome | Brachypodium sylvaticum | ||
Yorkshire-fog | Holcus lanatus | ||
Swallowtail | Milk-parsley | Thyselium palustre | |
Wall | bents | Agrostis spp. | |
Cock's-foot | Dactylis glomerata | ||
False Brome | Brachypodium sylvaticum | ||
Tor-grass | Brachypodium rupestre | ||
Wavy Hair-grass | Deschampsia flexuosa | ||
Yorkshire-fog | Holcus lanatus | ||
White Admiral | Honeysuckle | Lonicera periclymenum | |
snowberries | Symphoricarpos spp. | ||
White-letter Hairstreak | English Elm | Ulmus procera | |
Small-leaved Elm | Ulmus minor ssp. minor | ||
Wych Elm | Ulmus glabra | ||
Wood White | Bitter-vetch | Lathyrus linifolius | |
Common Bird's-foot-trefoil | Lotus corniculatus | ||
Greater Bird's-foot-trefoil | Lotus pedunculatus | ||
Meadow Vetchling | Lathyrus pratensis | ||
Tufted Vetch | Vicia cracca |