RSPB ID Spotlight – Butterflies

Whether you are admiring a butterfly flying high up in the tree canopy or basking on a plant in your garden, butterflies are some of our most captivating and beautiful insects. But could you recognise a Scotch Argus from a Mountain Ringlet? Or distinguish between a Small Tortoiseshell and a Comma? These are just a few of the 57 resident butterfly species that are attracted to the UK’s gardens to feed and, in the case of females, lay their eggs.

RSPB ID Spotlight Butterflies is a reliable fold-out chart that presents illustrations of all 57 of the UK’s resident butterflies by renowned artist Richard Lewington.

– Species are grouped by family and helpfully labelled to assist with identification
– Artworks are shown side by side for quick comparison and easy reference at home or in the field
– The reverse of the chart provides information on the habitats, behaviour, life cycles and diets of our butterflies, as well as the conservation issues they are facing and how the RSPB and other conservation charities are working to support them
– Practical tips on how to create a butterfly-friendly garden are also included

The ID Spotlight charts help wildlife enthusiasts identify and learn more about our most common species using accurate colour illustrations and informative, accessible text.

Author Biography:

Richard Lewington is an acknowledged leader in the field of insect illustration. His meticulous paintings of wildlife are the mainstay of many of the modern classics of field-guide art, including Pocket Guide to the Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland, Guide to Garden Wildlife, Field Guide to the Bees of Great Britain and Ireland, Field Guide to the Dragonflies and Damselflies of Great Britain and Ireland and Field Guide to the Moths of Great Britain and Ireland. Richard has also designed and illustrated wildlife stamps for several countries. In 1999, he was awarded Butterfly Conservation’s Marsh Award for the promotion of Lepidoptera conservation, and in 2010 the Zoological Society of London’s Stamford Raffles Award for contributions to zoology. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society.

Marianne Taylor is a freelance writer, illustrator, photographer and editor. Marianne worked in publishing for seven years before taking the plunge as a freelancer in 2007. Since then, she has written more than 25 books for adults and children on a range of natural history subjects, including RSPB Garden Birds, RSPB British Birds of Prey, RSPB Seabirds and The Way of the Hare. A passion for all wildlife, but especially birds, has always been a driving force in Marianne’s life.