BUTTERFLIES OF BRITAIN & EUROPE COMPREHENSIVE + EASY TO USE + HIGHLY ILLUSTRATED ‘The ONLY portable comprehensive guide tothe butterflies of Britain & Europe Covers all 440 species, with each species fully illustrated with paintings of the male, female and, where appropriate, all major forms. Over 2,000 colour illustrations and more than 400 distribution maps — one for every widespread species. Text covers all taxonomic nomenclature, distribution, flight period, variation, habitat, behaviour, life eyce, food plants and conservation, All the information has been researched for the book from original sources, and covers the whole of Europe and North Africa ~ ideal fr the travelling naturalist. ISBN 0-00-219992-0 £19.90 9 "780002! ll SATIYALOING OF BRITAIN & EUROPE BUTTERFLIES TEXT BY TOM TOLMAN ILLUSTRATED BY RICHARD LEWINGTON THE COMPLETELY NEW FIELD GUIDECOLLINS FIELD GUIDE BUTTERFLIES OF BRITAIN & EUROPEThis small volume is dedicated tothe memory of Dr Lionel G. Higgins and Mr Norman D. Riley, and to all entomologists, amateur and profesional past and present ‘who, collectively, are responsible or the vat, accumulated knosledge ofthe western Palearctic butterfly fauna Contents Personal Tribute to L. G. Higgins and N. D. Riley Preface Acknowledgements Abbreviations Introduction Basie external anatomy Life-eyele Ident Arrangement of Main Text Description of species Papilionidae Pieridae Lycaenidae Riodinidae Libytheidae Danaidae ‘Nymphalidae Satyridae Hesperiidae (Checklist of Species Glossary Bibliography Index of English Names Index of Scientific Names 10 u n 4 4 15 2B 33 138 139 140 142 185 287 281 293 299 30s 3106 A Personal Tribute to the Memory of Lionel G. Higgins and Norman D. Riley In the course of almost three decades, A Field Guide to the Butterflies of Britain ‘and Europe by L. G, Higgins and N. D, Riley has become an almost indispensable travelling companion for many general naturalists and butterfly specialists alike. ‘Ass familiar prelude to many a reference to the European butterflies, the words «according to Higgins and Riley...’ testify to the heavy reliance placed upon. this standard work, as well as the high esteem in which these authors are universally held. ‘Norman Riley died in 1979, at about the time I began to take an active interest in the butterflies of continental Europe, and, although I never met with this gentleman, I was prisileged to develop a close association with Lionel Higgins in the latter years of hs life. This man, characterized by his mild, unas- suming manner, incisive mind, great enthusiasm, gentle humour and generous, nature, seemed never too busy to give attention to problems of butterfly iden- tification for which T invariably sought his help. I was also impressed by his “uncommon, although tacit regard for the need for circumspection in the pursuit fof science: indeed, I do not believe we ever provided a complete solution to any problem. Our best efforts invariably raised more questions than answers, con- Elusions were, accordingly, always tentative, always calling for more data, more ‘material and, of course, more work, The commendable caution of Lione! Higgins i well epitomized by the last example of our many co-operative efforts to resolve ambiguities In the characters of Wifficult’ butterflies. Two days were spent preparing and comparing dissected components of insects. We each had our Allotted tasks, and, as work progressed, silence prevailed except for essential exchanges, mostly to predetermine the availability of the one and only binocular ticroscope ~ the preferred instrument for insect dissection, During this period, the cramped conditions of Lionel’ insect-storage roomylaboratoryiibrary were transformed into a state of near chaos, with every available work-surface strewn, With books, journals, insect drawers, microscope slides, test-tube racks and a host of other paraphernalia, Only at the end of the second day, when all available avenues of investigation had been exhausted, did [ask the inevitable question "Well, what do you think?” Lionel’s furrowed brow provided the answer before he spoke ‘Hmmm... any chance of getting more material, Lionel Higgins will always stand out in my mind as one who needed no reminding that only fools. rush in where wise men fear to trea. ‘After a brief illness, Lionel George Higgins died on October 9th 1985, at the age of 94, We spoke for the last time, by telephone, shortly before his death The brief conversation — about butterflies, as usual ~ended with Lionel making a joke, and the very'last thing I recall were not words, but hearty laughter. A fitting, final farewell from a very fine, old gentleman and one whom I shall always feel honoured to have been able to call my friend Preface ‘Since the first edition of A Field Guide to the Butterflies of Britain and Europe by LG. Higgins and N. D. Riley in 1970, Europeans have witnessed many changes. ‘Overall economic growth, reflected in greatly enhanced personal disposable income, increased leisure time, a vastly improved road network and, in most recent times, the very welcome removal of previously inhioiting travel restrictions in eastern Europe, have concerted in presenting the butterfly enthusiast with ‘ateater opportunities for travel within the subcontinent than perhaps might hhave been imagined or hoped for three decades ago’ Indirect consequence of fone change, namely, the ever-growing interest in the butterflies of the Greek islands, those of the eastern Aegean region are covered by the Field Guide for the first time. These islands hold several species which are o be found nowhere else in the geo-political region of Europe. In the last decade or so, other additions to the list of Europe's butterfly fauna have brought the total, recognized and described in this work, to 440. TThe previous field guide was intended largely for use in the field for the purpose of butterfly identification. The present volume, whilst, hopefully, fulfilling this same basic need, endeavours to encourage wider and deeper interest in the butterflies themselves. As most people, including most children know, a bbutterfy arises from a chrysalis, which, in turn, comes irom a caterpillar. That these three states of development equate to one and the same entity, argues convincingly that no knowledge of the adult butterfly, however extensive, can be complete without that of its life-history. Moreover, the benefits bestowed by a wider understanding of the biology, ecology and Lelraviour of buterflies extends significantly beyond any theoretical consideration. In illustration ofthe practical benefit of wider knowledge, familiarity with habitat character, coupled with awareness of larval host-plants, is a general and often considerable advantage in locating adult butterflies, especially those of very restricted or uncertain distribution. Again, for purely practical purposes, knowledge of the carly-stages of butterflies commends itself as a tool of potentially considerable convenience for searching out these insects even when they are not flying. As fan activity far less susceptible to the vagaries of the weather, and one offering {greater option in the use of time, searching for eggs or caterpillars can, through choice, be conducted in much more leisurely fashion, Of course, the concomitant advantage of almost inevitable, incidental discoveries of value to science is the -Breater source of gratification. ‘Within the constraints imposed by the size ofthis volume, every effort has bbeen made o facilitate and encourage these potentially highly rewarding pursuits, A strong; personal commitment to the notion that no facet of butterfly science should suffer needless neglect, has provided more than sufficient stimulus for the task of extending the previous field guide. IF this stimulates the reader to peer amongst leaves and flowers for butterfly eggs or caterpillars, oF to pay closer attention 10 the activities of the adult insects, as well asthe character of the habitat in which they reside, then the effort expended in preparing this work will have been justified.