Invertebrate / Lepidoptera / Butterflies and moths

Green Hairstreak Callophrys rubi butterfly view of adult with wings folded showing bright green underside

Emperor moth Saturnia pavonia female adult cut to whtie showing grey and brown furry wings with eyespots

Atlas moth Attacus atlas with wings outstretched showing glorious brown and orange marks on wings and feathered antennae

Small tortoiseshell Aglais urticae butterfly at rest with wings only slightly open.

Poplar Hawk Moth Laothoe populi cut to white with wings at rest held in typical position for this species

Orange-tip Anthocharis cardamines butterfly on Cuckoo flower Cardamine pratense side view

Orange-tip Anthocharis cardamines butterfly.  Illustration shows male butterfly with wings open.

White Admiral butterfly Limenitis camilla with outstretched wings.  This butterfly is a velvety brown with distinctive white markings, crossed with deep brown-black veins.

Monarch butterfly Danaus plexippus & Queen butterfly Danaus gilippus life cycle on Mexican milkweed Asclepias curassavica.  Illustration includes pupa and caterpillar for both species.

Common or Peleides blue morpho butterfly Morpho peleides.  Butterfly is on a leaf with magnified detail of the structure of the wing scales.  These ridges cause iridescence.  Illustration from “30 Animals that made us smarter” by Patrick Ayree (BBC Books).

Small skipper Thymelicus sylvestris natural history illustration on grasses

Brimstone butterfly Gonepteryx rhamni with wings spread

Brown hairstreak Thecla betulae with wings folded, female flying behind, adult in foreground resting on a leaf

Butterfly bouquest invented mix of flowers and butterfly cut to white

Large striped swordtail Graphium antheus cut to whtie

Black hairstreak butterfly Satyrium pruni showing brown underwing and perched on a flowering bramble Rubus species

White admiral Limenitis camilla caterpillar and adult bitterfly quick sketch with food plant

Tobacco horn worm Manduca sexta with food plant tobacco

Tobacco horn worm Manduca sexta moth

Tobacco horn worm Manduca sexta life stages egg pupa larva adult cut to whtie

Swallowtail butterfly Papilio machaon cut to whtie

Small tortoiseshell butterfly Aglais urticae cut to white dead specimen so wings folded further back than in life

Small tortoiseshell butterfly Aglais urticae life cycle illustrated in pen and ink with colour top wash and host plant nettle

Small Pearl Bordered Fritillary butterfly Boloria selene