| Page updated 6th. January 2009 |
Alderney | BUTTERFLIES (32 spp) | |
| List | compiled by David Wedd | ||
| 1539 | Swallowtail | Papilio machaon L s-sp gorganus | Scarce immigrant: first recorded in 1901; recently 2 in 2004 (Braye), 2 in 2006, none in 2008 |
| 1545 | Clouded Yellow | Colias croceus Geoff | Common immigrant, possibly overwintering in small numbers (seen in February 2007). Var. helice numerous in 2006 (10+ recorded) |
| 1546 | Brimstone | Goneptryx rhamni L | 2 at Vert Cotil 3.2006; 1 in same locality 3.2007 & another 3.2008, all almost certainly immigrants, as the food-plant (Buckthorn) is rare in Alderney |
| 1549 | Large White | Pieris brassicae L | Common resident, numbers greatly increased by immigration. |
| 1550 | Small White | Pieris rapae L | Abundant resident, but mass immigration also observed |
| 1551 | Green-veined White | Pieris napi L | Fairly common resident |
| 1552 | Bath White | Pontia daplidice L | One on Braye Common, 19.9.08, settled near the Moorings; clear view. The first in the Channel Islands since 1945, but I think probably under-recorded |
| 1553 | Orange-tip | Anthocarus cardamines L | 3 recorded at Vert Cotil 4.2007; status uncertain |
| 1555 | Green Hairstreak | Callophrys rubi L | Resident. Abundant in 2006 in all gorse areas, especially Mannez Quarry; Less common in 2007, but numerous again in 2008 |
| 1557 | Purple Hairstreak | Neozephyrus quercus L | First recorded in 1890s; resident in small numbers, and quite widespread. An enigma, as the larval foodplant in Alderney has not been discovered, possibly Evergreen Oak, Quercus ilex |
| 1558 | White-letter Hairstreak | Satyrium w-album Knoch | Resident in small numbers; larvae on elm-suckers, mainly in the Valley |
| 1561 | Small Copper | Lycaena phlaeas L | Very common resident, in overlapping broods, May to November |
| 1567 | Long-tailed Blue | Lampides boeticus L | Status uncertain; 9 recorded in 2006 and at least 6 in 2007, from many different localities; 6 more in 2008, all in June |
| 1572 | Brown Argus | Aricia agestis D&S | Resident, in small numbers (probably under-recorded); 5 in 2006; at least 6 in 2007 & 6 again in 2008 |
| 1574 | Common Blue | Polyommatus icarus Rott | Abundant resident |
| 1580 | Holly Blue | Celastrina argiolus L | Abundant resident |
| 1590 | Red Admiral | Vanessa atalanta L | Abundant immigrant, with increasing numbers hibernating in bunkers & many larvae feeding on mallow. |
| 1591 | Painted Lady | Vanessa cardui L | Common immigrant, with sporadic mass 'invasions' (eg 2006) |
| 1593 | Small Tortoiseshell | Aglais urticae L | Resident in small numbers; formerly common only 3 seen in 2008 |
| 1594 | Large Tortoiseshell | Nymphalis polychloros L | Status uncertain, currently resident. 'Extinct' species, first seen in 1900, then not again until 2006 (Essex Farm, 9.5.06) but in 2007 at least 20 adults were recorded from many parts of the island, and 14 larvae were found in the Valley. In 2008 about a dozen adults were recorded, between March & July. |
| 1597 | Peacock | Inachis io L | Fairly common resident |
| 1598 | Comma | Polygonia c-album L | Resident in small numbers, especially in the Valley and in St Anne's gardens |
| 1607 | Dark Green Fritillary | Argynnis aglaja L | Resident in small numbers; also probably immigrant. Seen mainly in E part of Alderney: 10-15 seen in 2006, rather fewer in 2007 & 2008 |
| 1608 | Silver-washed Fritillary | Argynnis paphia L | Recorded in C19th, but not since |
| 1612 | Glanville Fritillary | Found all around the island's coastline, within 100 metres of the sea; especially at Trois Vaux, the Giffoine and the Houmet Herbe area. Currently a common resident, but this species is subject to great fluctuation in numbers, & the high tides during the winter of 2007-8 swamped the biggest colony of all, at Crabby Bay. | |
| 1614 | Speckled Wood | Pararge aegeria L | Abundant resident, appearing from March to October in all parts of Alderney |
| 1615 | Wall | Lasiommata megera L | Common resident |
| 1621 | Grayling | Hipparchia semele L | Resident, found commonly on rocky coastal areas and heather moorland |
| 1625 | Gatekeeper | Pyronia tythonus L | Abundant resident, found all over the island – which is remarkable, since the species was first recorded here only in 1998! |
| 1626 | Meadow Brown | Maniola jurtina L | Abundant resident |
| 1627 | Small Heath | Coenonympha pamphilus L | Unobtrusive but common resident; in 2008 was flying in every month from April to October |
| 1629 | Ringlet | Resident at very low density, recorded from the Butes, Braye Common, Houmet Herbe area: 2 in 2006, 5 in 2007, 3 in 2008. These are the only current records from the Channel Islands |