These Striking red and black moths certainly give off a message to predators, don’t eat me, I’m poisonous!

The black and yellow caterpillars of the Cinnabar moth, feed mainly on ragwort and it is from this plant that their bodies build up their poison.

Often mistaken for a butterfly  Cinnabar moths are widespread and can be found in a variety of habitats

Our prettiest springtime butterfly, on the wing from late April. The orange tips of the male are a warning colour to predators. The caterpillar food source is mostly lady’s smock or cuckoo flower and the Orange-tip can been seen flying over beds of these flowers which grow in marshy areas.

This is a mainly migratory butterfly from southern Europe arriving with us in the spring.  A warming climate has seen Red Admirals hibernating over winter and emerging in the Spring.
Buddleia is a favoured nectar source for all butterflies and the preferred Red Admiral caterpillar food plant  is stinging nettles.

This butterfly is believed to be the originator of the name ‘butterfly’ and is our longest living species, on the wing for most months in the warmer weather.
Males are bright yellow and  females much paler almost white in colour.  The caterpillar food plant is buckthorn.

This butterfly is a master of camouflage with the appearance of a dry leaf when settled. In flight it has a striking copper colour and is on the wing from March to October. The caterpillar food source is wild hop.

Our most common butterfly on the wing from May to September. Caterpillars rely on a wide variety of grasses as their food source.