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Butterfly Conservation:

National and regional books, leaflets and reports

This page lists a selection of national and regional books, booklets, leaflets and reports produced by Butterfly Conservation, the main UK butterfly and moth conservation organisation.

The publications are split into five groups, national, England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Many of these publications are available as free downloads from the Butterfly Conservation website or from the regional branch websites that can be accessed via that site.

Books published by Butterfly Conservation are listed on the main UK guides/atlases page.


Butterfly pages

There are four butterfly related book pages on the site:

UK field guides, site guides, checklists & atlases

UK general interest: biography, gardening, science, etc

Butterfly Conservation: national and regional publications

Butterfly art

 
National

The State Of The UK's Butterflies: 2015

A 28 page report summarising the state of butterfly populations in the UK based on annual surveys. From the introduction: "This new assessment of the state of UK’s butterflies is thus both timely and important. It presents new analyses of long-term and recent trends in butterfly abundance and distribution, identifying areas of concern and glimmers of hope."

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The State Of Britain's Larger Moths: 2013

A 32 page report summarising the state of macro-moth populations in the UK based on annual surveys.

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Butterfly Factsheets

Butterfly Conservation

A series of 2 page leaflets each covering a single species. The factsheets focus on the habitat management required for the specific species. There are also small sections on foodplants, life cycle, distribution and colony structure.

To date there are factsheets for the following species:

Dingy Skipper (Erynnis tages)
Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus malvae)
Wood White (Leptidea sinapis)
Black Hairstreak (Satyrium pruni)
Brown Hairstreak (Thecla betulae)
White-letter Hairstreak (Satyrium w-album)
Small Blue (Cupido minimus)
Silver-studded Blue (Pebejus argus)
Northern Brown Argus (Aricia artaxerces)
Adonis Blue (Polyommatus bellargus)
Large Blue (Maculinea arion)
Duke of Burgundy (Hamearis lucina)
White Admiral (Limenitis camilla)
Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary (Boloria selene)
Pearl-bordered Fritillary (Boloria euphrosyne)
High Brown Fritillary (Argynnis adippe)
Dark Green Fritillary (Argynnis aglaja)
Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia)
Marsh Fritillary (Euphydras aurinia)
Heath Fritillary (Melitaea athalia)
Grayling (Hipparchia semele)
Large Heath (Coenonympha tullia)

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Moth Factsheets

Butterfly Conservation

A series of 2 page leaflets each covering a single species. The factsheets focus on the habitat management required for the specific species. There are also small sections on foodplants, life cycle, and distribution.

To date there are factsheets for the following species:

Argent & Sable (Rheumaptera hastata)
Barberry Carpet (Pareulype berberata)
Barred Tooth-striped (Trichopteryx polycommata)
Basil Thyme Case-bearer (Coleophora tricolor)
Black-veined moth (Siona lineata)
Bordered Gothic (Heliophobus reticulata)
Brighton Wainscot (Oria musculosa)
Buttoned Snout (ypena rostralis)
Chalk Carpet (Scotopteryx bipunctaria)
Common Fan-foot (Pechipogo strigilata)
Dark Bordered Beauty (Epione vespertaria)
Diny Mocha (Cyclophora pendularia)
Double Line (Mythimna turca)
Drab Looper (Minoa murinata)
Forester (Adscita statices)
Four-spotted (Tyta luctuosa)
Fiery Clearwing (Pyropteron chrysidiformis)
Goat Moth (Cossus cossus)
Grey Carpet (Lithostege griseata)
Heart Moth (Dicycla oo)
Light Crimson Underwing (Catocala promissa)
Lunar Yellow Underwing (Noctua orbona)
Marsh Mallow Moth (Hydraecia osseola hucherardi)
Mistletoe Marble (Celypha woodiana)
Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk-moth (Hemaris tityus)
Netted Carpet (Eustroma reticulatum)
Pale Shining Brown (Polia bombycina)
Reddish Buff (Ascometia caliginosa)
Scarce Vapourer (Orgyia recens)
Silky Wave (Idaea dilutaria)
Sloe Carpet (Aleucis distinctata)
Square-spotted Clay (Xestia rhomboidea)
Straw Belle (Aspitates gilvaria)
Striped Lychnis (Shargacucullia lychnitis)
Sword-grass (Xylena exsoleta)
White-spotted Pinion (Cosmia diffinis)
Waved Carpet (Hydrelia Sylvata)

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Foodplant Factsheets

Butterfly Conservation

A series of 2 page leaflets each covering a single key moth host plant. The factsheets contain details of the foodplant and its distribution, the associated moth species, the importance for other invertebrates and best practice management.

To date there are factsheets for the following species:

Aspen (Populus tremula)
Dyer's Greenweed (Genista tinctoria)
Goldenrod (Solidago virgaurea)
Sweet Chestnut (Castanea sativa)

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Butterflies In Towns And Cities

Butterfly Conservation

A 16 page booklet that describes the main habitat requirements of thirty butterfly species associated with urban habitats and gives advice on management.

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Gardening For Butterflies and Moths

Butterfly Conservation

A 6 page foldout guide with information and suggestions.

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England

Butterflies of the West Midlands:

Birmingham & the Black Country, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire and Worcestershire

Editor: Ian Duncan, Peter Seal, John Tilt, Roger Wasley, Mike Williams

NatureBureau / Butterfly Conservation West Midlands

2016

"In this first ever book on the butterflies of the West Midlands detailed accounts of all 41 species regularly recorded in Birmingham & the Black Country, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire and Worcestershire are included, with distribution maps, 25 butterfly walks, gardening tips and a section on how to photograph butterflies. This major new title has been produced by members of the West Midlands branch of the national charity Butterfly Conservation, which is working to protect Britain's butterflies and moths. The book will appeal to butterfly enthusiasts of all ages and experience from complete beginners to those who are already keen butterfly watchers or photographers. For each species there are photographs of the four life stages – egg, larva, pupa and adult – and guidance on identification. Distribution maps show where each butterfly may be seen, and there is helpful information on suitable habitat and when to look for each species. Additional chapters on butterfly walks, how to photograph butterflies and tips on suitable plants to attract them to your garden are included."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

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Butterfly Walks in Gloucestershire

Butterfly Conservation Gloucestershire

2016

"In 2008 we published our popular 40 Butterfly Walks in Gloucestershire booklet. Over the years a few of the walks have become unsuitable or unavailable while new walks have been suggested. A new version of the booklet has now been printed with some of the old walks removed, others revised where necessary and some new walks added. As well as the walks we have added a list of other good butterfly sites in the county and a guide to the flight times of our butterflies to help you decide which walk to do when."

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Butterfly Walks in Somerset and Bristol

Butterfly Conservation Somerset & Bristol Branch

2016

"Butterfly Walks in Somerset and Bristol is a beautifully illustrated guidebook providing enthusiasts with everything they need to know on where to spot every species of butterfly this part of the country has to offer, including the previously extinct Large Blue."

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Hampshire and Isle of Wight Butterfly Walks

Butterfly Conservation Hampshire Branch

2016

"Butterfly Walks will help enthusiasts identify the best places to see the key species found across the two counties, including the extremely rare Glanville Fritillary butterfly .... The book includes 34 different walks, from coastal day trips to woodland rambles. Some encourage further exploration of local BC reserves, including flagship butterfly reserve Magdalen Hill Down, near Winchester."

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Butterfly Walks in Wiltshire

Butterfly Conservation Wiltshire Branch

2013

"Wiltshire is one of the finest counties in the United Kingdom for its abundance and variety of butterflies. All but a dozen of the resident species can be found within its borders and some are more abundant here than anywhere else in the country. The most important reason for this is that the county, especially in the east and south, is dominated by chalk – and it is chalk (and some limestone) grassland that holds some of the most specialist and scarce species, such as the Duke of Burgundy, Marsh Fritillary, Chalkhill Blue and Wall Brown. Wiltshire also holds some exciting butterflies in other habitats too, such as the Purple Emperor, the woodland fritillaries and the hairstreaks. This guide directs you to the best places in Wiltshire to see these interesting butterflies. Amply supplied with habitat and species photographs, it also gives the most useful information about how and when to find butterflies and some moths at these sites, with clear maps to get you to them easily. The text has been written by members of the Wiltshire branch of Butterfly Conservation, and all sites in the book have been specially visited, so that the information given is as up to date as possible."

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Fritillary Butterflies Of Darmoor

Butterfly Conservation

A 4 page leaflet focussing on habitat requirements and identification.

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Butterflies of Northamptonshire

Douglas Goddard & Andy Wyldes

Butterfly Conservation (Beds & Northants Branch)

2012

"Butterflies of Northamptonshire is the first book exclusively on the butterflies of the county. It contains descriptions of the butterfly habitats of Northamptonshire with details of ten important sites with public access to see the butterflies of the county. The core of the book contains descriptions, life cycles, trends, and distribution maps of the 36 species resident in the county plus historical summaries of rare migrants and extinct species. Also featured is the work of the Butterfly Conservation and management for key species, Gardening for Butterflies, ‘BB’ and the Purple Emperor."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

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The History of Butterfly Recording in Northamptonshire 1820-2011

Martin J. Izzard

Butterfly Conservation (Beds & Northants Branch)

2012

Buy from amazon.co.uk

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The Butterflies of Yorkshire

Howard M. Frost

Butterfly Conservation

2005

"This book summarises data collected by over 1000 recorders between 1995 and 2003 and is the first ever book dedicated solely to Yorkshire's butterflies, their distribution and lifestyle."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

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Warwickshire's Butterflies: Their Habitats and Where to Find Them

Keith Warmington and Margaret Vickery

Warwickshire Branch of Butterfly Conservation

2003

Buy from amazon.co.uk

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Millennium Atlas of Norfolk Butterflies

B.R. Watts and B.J. McIlwrath

Butterfly Conservation (Norfolk Branch)

2002

Buy from amazon.co.uk

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Atlas of Sussex Butterflies

Joyce Gay and Peter Gay

Butterfly Conservation

1996

Buy from amazon.co.uk

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Butterflies and Moths of the West Midlands and Gloucestershire: A Five Year Review

Rob Mabbett, Mike Williams

British Butterfly Conservation Society

1992

Buy from amazon.co.uk

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Northern Ireland

An Introduction To Butterflies And Day-Flying Moths of Northern Ireland

Butterfly Conservation Northern Ireland

A 17 page booklet that provides and introduction to some of the butterflies and moths you are likely to see in Northern Ireland. A site guide section gives details of eighteen butterfly sites, three in each of the six counties.

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Moths of Northern Ireland

Butterfly Conservation Northern Ireland

A 12 page foldout leaflet with pictures of about 40 of the moths that are most likely to be seen in Northern Ireland and general information about moths and Butterfly Conservation.

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2014 County Checklist Of Northern Ireland Microlepidoptera

Butterfly Conservation Northern Ireland

A 19 page checklist that provides county distributions for micro-moth species based on records up to the start of 2014.

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Scotland

Moths And Butterflies Of The Scottish Uplands

Butterfly Conservation Scotland

A 16 page booklet that describes some of the upland and montane species found in Scotland and the special habitats that are needed to maintain populations.

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Important Moths And Butterflies Of The Argyll Islands

Butterfly Conservation Scotland

A 16 page booklet that provides information on key species found on the Argyll islands and describes where and where to find them.

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Butterflies And Day Flying Moths Of The Lothians And The Scottish Borders: An Identification Guide

Butterfly Conservation Scotland

A 12 page guide with information about and images of 34 species. Also information about 13 sites for butterflies in the region and general information about recording moths and butterflies.

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Butterflies And Day Flying Moths Of Glasgow: An Identification Guide

Butterfly Conservation Scotland

A 10 page guide with information about and images of 26 species. Also information about 6 sites for butterflies in the city and information about the Glasgow Local Biodiversity Action Plan.

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Butterflies Of Argyll: An Identification Guide

Butterfly Conservation Scotland

A 10 page guide with information about and images of 27 species. Also information about 9 sites for butterflies in the region and general information about recording butterflies.

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Butterflies Of The Highlands: An Identification Guide

Butterfly Conservation Scotland

A 12 page guide with information about and images of 30 species. Also information about 11 sites for butterflies in the region and general information about butterflies.

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Butterflies And Moths Of Falkirk and Lanarkshire: An Identification Guide

Butterfly Conservation Scotland

A 12 page guide with information about and images of 34 species. Also information about 15 sites for butterflies in the region.

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Butterflies And Day Flying Moths Of Tayside and Fife: An Identification Guide

Butterfly Conservation Scotland

A 16 page guide with information about and images of 34 species. Also information about 12 sites for butterflies in the region.

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Butterflies And Day Flying Moths Of Dumfries & Galloway and Ayshire: An Identification Guide

Butterfly Conservation Scotland

A 16 page guide with information about and images of 39 species. Also information about 13 sites for butterflies in the region.

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Butterflies Of The Cairngorms: An Identification Guide

Butterfly Conservation Scotland

A 10 page guide with information about and images of 25 species. Also information about 16 sites for butterflies in the region.

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Butterflies Of Lomond and Rural Stirling: An Identification Guide

Butterfly Conservation Scotland

A 10 page foldout guide with information about and images of 20 species. Also information about 14 "top sites" for butterflies in the area.

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Atlas of Butterflies in Highland and Moray

David Barbour, Stephen Moran, Tony Mainwood and Bill Slater

Butterfly Conservation Highland Branch

2008

"This atlas documents the distribution of 30 species of butterflies in the period 1980 - 2007 in the area covered by Highland Branch of Butterfly Conservation. It presents a snapshot of our current knowledge and a baseline for studying changes and trends in the future. Individual species accounts give notes on general status and distribution together with population trends, habitat, flight period, larval foodplants, appearance and behaviour. A chapter describes and maps the range-expansion of four species during the recent period. A collection of photographs shows the attractiveness of many of our resident butterflies as well as giving an indication of the differences between some of the species that can be tricky to tell apart at first sight."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

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Butterflies: of South West Scotland

Butterfly Conservation Scotland

2006

Based on a 10 year survey of butterflies in South West Scotland. Includes detailed distribution maps, colour photographs and a guide to the best sites for butterflies in the region.

Buy from amazon.co.uk

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Learn About Scotland's Common Moths

Butterfly Conservation Scotland

A 12 page guide with information about moth biology, catching and recording moths and moth identification. Plus pictures and brief information about 36 common species.

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Learn About Scotland's Burnet And Forester Moths

Butterfly Conservation Scotland

A 16 page guide about the 6 species of burnet moths and the single species of forester moth found in Scotland.

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Species booklets

Butterfly Conservation Scotland

A series of 4 page guides each focussing on a specific species in Scotland. The guides provide information about biology, habitat, distribution and conservation.

Species covered to date:

Argent & Sable (Rheumaptera hastata)

Chequered Skipper (Carterocephalus palaemon)

Marsh Fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia)

Narrow-bordered Bee Hawkmoth (Hemaris tityus)

Netted Mountain Moth (Macaria carbonaria)

Pearl-bordered Fritillary (Boloria euphrosyne)

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Small Blue Survey 2016: Berwickshire and Northumberland

Butterfly Conservation

A 19 page report.

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Garden For Butterflies

Butterfly Conservation Scotland

A 5 page guide with suggestions for plants to attract butterflies and feed caterpillars. Includes pictures of 20 target species.

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Wales

Walking The Butterfly Coast

Butterfly Conservation Wales

A 4 page foldout guide with images of 28 butterflies that can be found on the Pembrokeshire coast.

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Butterflies And Farmland

Butterfly Conservation Wales

An 8 page foldout guide with information about conserving butterflies on farmland and images of 16 butterflies.

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Species leaflets

Butterfly Conservation Wales

A series of 4 page foldout leaflets with information on the life cycle, ecology and habitat requirements of some of the threatened species of butterflies and moths in Wales.

Species covered to date:

Argent and Sable (Rheumaptera hastate)

Brown Hairstreak (Thecla betulae)

Buttoned Snout (Hypena rostralis)

Double Line (Mythinma turca)

Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk-moth (Hemaris tityus)

Waved Carpet (Hydrelia sylvata)

Welsh Clearwing (Synanthdon scoliaeformis)

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The Status of the Marsh Fritillary in Wales: 2015

Butterfly Conservation Wales

A 9 page report that outlines the results of population surveys undertaken since 2012.

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Butterflies of Montgomeryshire

Butterfly Conservation Wales

A 48 page report that outlines the butterfly species recorded in Montgomeryshire, focusing on the county status of each species and their basic biology, rather than their identification.

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Last updated July 2014