EARLY BUTTER

Some butterflies are out already when weather permits.

Probably the earliest butterfly you will see is the Brimstone.  The males are an unmistakeable bright yellow while the females are a pale greenish white.  They look very conspicuous flying about but in dull weather they hang up side down on plants and look just like a withered leaf.

Photo: Norfolk Wildlife Trust

On sunny, spring days bright blue Holly Blues skitter around the holly bushes and trees where they lay their eggs on the flowers.    If you see one perched on a leaf you can see the litttle black dots on the pale blue underside of the wings.

  

Male Orange Tips are easily recognised but the females don't have any orange and look like small white butterflies.  Their caterpillar foodplants include Lady's Smock and Jack-by-the-Hedge.

And I have even seen some Peacock butterflies catching a few rays.  Insects need the sun to warm up their cold-blooded bodies.