Elementary (Grade 1-2)Elementary (Grade 3-5)Middle (Grade 6-8)Junior High (Grade 9-10)Senior High (Grade 11-12)Spanish (All ages)ESL (All ages)Games Specialist (All ages)

Leading Streak Today

Your Streak Today

Leading Streak Today

Your Streak Today

This quiz features one of our rarest butterflies. This picture shows the wing in glorious detail.

Insects and Spiders - Butterflies 2

The butterfly image is used extensively in arts and crafts. Due to the nature of its symmetrical shape and stunning colours, it is a very versatile image. From textiles to pottery to jewellery, butterflies are a popular addition.

If one is nervous, for instance before an interview, the descriptive expression "I've got butterflies in my stomach" is often said.

1 .

Can you identify this butterfly?

Photograph courtesy of Hectonichus

Orange Tip

Lulworth Skipper

Holly Blue

Red Admiral

Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Lycaenidae
Genus: Celastrina
Species: C. argiolus
Widespread and often seen in parks and gardens.
Renowned for wildly fluctuating in numbers.
This is believed to be caused by parasitism from the wasp Listrodomus nychemerus.

2 .

Can you identify this butterfly?

Photograph courtesy of Hans Hillewaert

Essex Skipper

Dark Clouded Yellow

Ringlet

Small Tortoiseshell

Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Pieridae
Genus: Colias
Species: C. croceus
This butterfly is a small, fast-flying migrant.
Famous for occasional mass migrations.
Can be spotted on the south coast nearly every year in varying numbers.
At rest, their wings remain closed.

3 .

Can you identify this butterfly?

Photograph courtesy of Velela

Marsh Fritillary

Small Skipper

Northern Brown Argus

Large Heath

Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Lycaenidae
Genus: Aricia
Species: A. artaxerxes
Colonies tend to be small, with less than 50 adults.
In England the species is locally distributed in Derbyshire, Yorkshire, Cumbria and County Durham.
This butterfly has a single brood.
Flies low to the ground over flowering grasslands.

4 .

Can you identify this butterfly?

Photograph courtesy of http://www.lucnix.be/main.php

Scotch Argus

Red Admiral

Ringlet

Essex Skipper

Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Genus: Vanessa
Species: V. atalanta
One of our most well-known butterflies.
A frequent visitor to British gardens.
Although considered a resident, it is primarily a migrant to this country.
Can be found practically anywhere, from the coast to urban gardens to mountain tops.

5 .

Can you identify this butterfly?

Photograph courtesy of Svdmolen

Purple Hairstreak

Small Copper

Purple Emperor

Pearl-bordered Fritillary

Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Lycaenidae
Genus: Neozephyrus
Species: N. quercus
Small, active butterfly.
Often spotted fluttering high around oak trees.
Main adult food source is honeydew.
Fly more often during the evening of a warm summer's day.

6 .

Can you identify this butterfly?

Photograph courtesy of Ettore Balocchi

Small Heath

Swallowtail

Common Blue

Speckled Wood

Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Genus: Pararge
Species: P. aegeria
Often perch in sunny spots.
Can be seen spiralling into the air to chase each other.
Unique among British butterflies because it can overwinter in two stages, as both a larva and pupa.

7 .

Can you identify this butterfly?

Photograph courtesy of Svdmolen

Chequered Skipper

Grayling

Small White

Silver-spotted Skipper

Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Hesperiidae
Genus: Hesperia
Species: H. comma
Its distribution is chalk downland sites in southern England.
This butterfly appears late in the year, July or early August.
It has a low, darting flight.
One of the few species that is increasing its range.

8 .

Can you identify this butterfly?

Photograph courtesy of Darius Baužys

Heath Fritillary

Silver-spotted Skipper

Small Heath

Grayling

Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Genus: Melitaea
Species: M. athalia
Historically, this butterfly has been linked with the traditional practice of woodland coppicing.
This has given it the local name of the 'Woodman's Follower' as it follows the cycle of cutting around a wood.
One of our rarest butterflies.

9 .

Can you identify this butterfly?