The butter-yellow wings of the male brimstone are a true herald of spring, and are credited by some as the inspiration behind the word “butterfly”. These pretty yellow butterflies are quite common, especially around open woodland, and are often the first butterflies to be seen in spring. Brimstones emerge from….

The last few sunny days has seen a veritable irruption of freshly emerged Red Admirals (Vanessa atalanta) in the garden. Some of them still had “crinkly” edges to their wings, where they hadn’t pumped up / dried out properly yet. This particularly fine specimen posed for photos. Absolutely stunning butterflies.

Butterflies have always intrigued me. The splash of animated colour they add to garden and hedgerow, their fascinating life cycles and the spectacular metamorphosis into their adult form has always been captivating. As a young child I remember being awestruck as I watched a peacock butterfly emerge from a chrysalis….

Are you interested in learning how to identify Irish butterflies? Would you like to contribute to butterfly conservation in Ireland? Can you make it to Tralee, Co. Kerry on Saturday 28 April? Butterfly Monitoring Workshop Date: Saturday 28 April 2012 Time: 10:30 am to 3:00 pm Venue: Business/IT Building, North….

The Irish Butterfly Monitoring Scheme has released its annual report for 2010. Established in 2007 by the National Biodiversity Data Centre, this Citizen Science project aims to improve our overall understanding of Irish butterfly species, their distribution and their population dynamics. Last year the scheme involved more than 140 volunteers….

The holly blue is a tiny blue butterfly that has a scattered distribution around Ireland. It is largely confined to the relatively scarce patches of native woodland that still support both holly and ivy. It is also found in urban and suburban gardens or parkland where these plants feature prominently…..

A national survey of the rare marsh fritillary butterfly is currently being commissioned by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and the National Biodiversity Data Centre according to press reports at the end of last week. Butterfly expert and ecologist Dr Eugenie Regan of the National Biodiversity Data Centre….

The large, unmistakeable eye-spots on each of the hind-wings, which resemble those on a peacock’s tail, are what give this striking butterfly its name. It is one of the largest and most colourful butterflies in Ireland, and is a welcome visitor to our gardens in early spring and late summer…..