To ask you if you have colourful butterflies where you live?

[CollieEye]

In an attempt to calm down DD (2 yrs) who was panicking about a butterfly that flew near her face I said "butterflies are beautiful, they come in lots of lovely colours". She roared at me. "No they don't. They're all white."

And she's right. The only butterflies I've seen all summer are Cabbage Whites. Where are all the Red Admirals and such? Are they living with you?

[GerundTheBehemoth]

Here are a few of the ones I've photographed near my home - I live in Kent, near the North Downs.

Chalkhill blue: 4.bp.blogspot.com/--C2cI8CrMak/UfYkViBCHYI/AAAAAAAAEo4/goAhHW1d-JQ/s1600/Chalkhill+Blue+male.jpg

Marbled white: 1.bp.blogspot.com/-DoqBNe250Uw/UfYkbdgIQqI/AAAAAAAAEpw/dMPmDkbdxbo/s1600/Marbled+White+3.jpg

Green hairstreak: 4.bp.blogspot.com/-ikjO-epemjk/TbIPS-DYNmI/AAAAAAAABGs/EEnueFJnzS4/s1600/Green+Hairstreak+2.jpg;

Peacock: 1.bp.blogspot.com/-0yMAiG0bGtI/UE0Ppmq-IEI/AAAAAAAAC_0/QLOahkWzK8U/s1600/Peacock,+SWR.jpg

Comma: 2.bp.blogspot.com/-TKLEqREsIhQ/UDDWH5R30bI/AAAAAAAAC0o/PQMU5GEB4BI/s1600/Comma,+SWR.jpg

Orange-tip: 2.bp.blogspot.com/_XQLmy1mInf0/S-QTrArvUnI/AAAAAAAAAT4/_WdZH0Aux_s/s1600/Orange-tip+male,+May+2010,+RC.jpg

Must try out the posh link thingy...

[JambalayaCodfishPie]

We're in the NW - there has been an abundance of white butterflies, more than I've ever seen before.

I have seen the brown-y red ones though too.

[freddiefrog]

Now I think about it, I've only seen white ones so far this year

We used to see loads of different types (no idea what they're called though) in our garden, but have only seen a few, tiny white ones.

I am absolutely terrified of butterflies though

[Iamsparklyknickers]

I remarked yeasterday on all the Cabbages that have been around the last couple of weeks - they seem to have appeared after the wet weather?

I saw a few Peacocks earlier in year but not some much since all the hot weather.

[ThisReallyIsNotSPNopeNotAtAll]

I'm in Leeds and only seen white or brown coloured ones.

[Wasapea]

Same here Jambalaya. Sitting in the garden at the moment surrounded by the buggers. They are lovely though.

[Twattybollocks]

We have loads. Monarchs, red admiral, a little pale blue one which I've no idea what it's called but is very pretty, the orange ones with the spots, the tan ones with the square pattern, and of course cabbage whites

[ReluctantBeing]

Lots of white here in Yorkshire, but also red admirals and some rather funky black ones.

[GetStuffezd]

Beautiful pictures - did you take them all yourself?
Here (Northumberland) we have loads of Cabbage Whites but also plenty of Small Tortoiseshells and Peacocks. Haven't seen any others this year so far.

[Eyesunderarock]

We have dozens of whites and gatekeepers, red admiral and peacock several times a week, orange tip and an occasional tortoiseshell.
You can tell when the schools have finished their projects because we get a big influx of painted ladies.

[Oldraver]

We have mostly at the moment white ones, though have seen some coloured ones.

When I was a child we ised to see loads of Red Admirals, I have only seen one recently last year...OH didnt know what one was.

We currently have some caterpillars turning into cysalides... so will have some Painted Ladies to release soon.

Is she very afraid of butterflies ? maybe she would like to hatch some (though I wouldn't if it freaks her too much

[lljkk]

Today Lots of Peacocks, some Admirals, many large Cabbage whites and a few orange-brown ones I don't know on my buddleias (Norfolk).

[Doubtfuldaphne]

Loads here in the Cotswolds! Especially peacock ones. It's lovely :)

[MrsCosmopilite]

in Essex - same as lljkk. The orange-browns may be small tortoiseshells or commas, BTW.

We had a lovely moth on the window last night - however I could only see it's underside. Coloured like a poplar hawk-moth but too small to be one.

[GrimmaTheNome]

There is some seasonality to butterflies. It also depends what plants are available. We get lots of coloured butterflies coming to our buddleia bush, and later they'll be clustered on the sedum spectabila (not sure I've spelled that correctly)

It may be that this year some of the colouredspecies which overwinter got reduced by the long cold spring, and perhaps the whites are thriving in the weather now?

If your DD isn't really terrified of butterflies, do you have a butterfly house anywhere near you? We used to take our DD to the one in the park in Lancaster a lot - fabulous colours in there.

[Sallystyle]

I have seen a few colourful ones but yes, mainly white this year.

[GerundTheBehemoth]

Gatekeeper is another orange-brown one that's out in force at the moment: 1.bp.blogspot.com/_XQLmy1mInf0/TE1b62fSP9I/AAAAAAAAAis/vK2BGZjUhVg/s1600/Gatekeeper+male.jpg

Thank you, Getstuffezd - they're all my pics. Wildlife photography's my obsession hobby

[WithASpider]

In the midlands we are swamped with Peacocks and Commas, plus the Painted Ladies we hatched and released earlier this year.

I'm currently nurturing European Swallowtail caterpillars for release next spring.

My Curly Kale has been decimated by Cabbage Whites this year though!

[GerundTheBehemoth]

Where are you planning to release the swallowtails, WithASpider? The European subspecies doesn't occur naturally in Britain (except possibly as a v rare migrant) - we have our own native subspecies but it only lives in the Norfolk Broads.

[meganorks]

I'm in the midlands and fairly urban. I had been thinking same thing. Usually a few whites in our garden at any time. But otherwise only seen one small brown one.

[JakeBullet]

I would love to see some Chalkhill Blues.

We nurtured and released Painted Ladies this year but have also seen Peacocks plus Cabbage Whites and some smaller ones.

I have loads of pollinator plants in my garden though. I planted them for the bees but happily the butterflies love them too....my Buddlea is awash with colour.

[WithASpider]

The subspecies i have is the one that occurs in the Norfolk Broads (I think). I've not quite progressed to my own butterfly house yet! :o I'll be heading down to my friend's mother's house in Norfolk for the release.

They only hatched 10 days ago and will be overwintering as a Pupa.

[racingheart]

Seen peacocks and red admirals and another very pretty orange and red one in our house as well as some blue ones and white ones. DH planted some wild flowers at bottom of the garden and I think they have helped attract more varieties.

[GerundTheBehemoth]

Good stuff WithASpider. Will be fascinating to watch them grow. Good luck with the rearing and release!

[VivaLeBeaver]

We have loads.

You need a buddleia bush.