Devon has around 39 resident butterfly species, but this is a quick guide to some of our main species and the best sites around the county to see them:

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Brown Argus

Best time to see: From the 2nd week of May - end of June and all of August.

  • Branscombe - Map SY207882 / Nearest Post Code EX12 3DP
  • Braunton Burrows - Map SS463351 / Nearest Post Code EX33 2NU
  • Orley Common - Map SX827665 / Nearest Post Code TQ12 5UT
     

 

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Brown Hairstreak

Best time to see: Aug week 2 to Sep week 3

  • Orley Common - Map SX827665 / Nearest Post Code TQ12 5UT
  • Preston Down - Map SX890624 / Nearest Post Code TQ3 1JA

     

 

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Dark Green Fritillary

Best time to see: Jun week 2 to Aug week 2

  • Aish Tor - Map SX707714 / Nearest Post Code TQ13 7NT
  • Bicton Common - Map SY036851 / Nearest Post Code EX9 7BR
  • Bolt Head - Map SX712375 / Nearest Post Code TQ7 3DR
  • Braunton Burrows - Map SS463351 / Nearest Post Code EX33 2NU
  • Heddon Valley - Map SS642478 / Nearest Post Code EX31 4QD
     
Dingy Skipper (upperside) - Bob Eade

Dingy Skipper

Best time to see: April week 3 to Jun week 2/all Aug

  • Branscombe - Map SY207882 / Nearest Post Code EX12 3DP
    Haldon - Map EX6 7QY / Nearest Post Code EX6 7QY
  • Meeth Quarry - Map SS540085 / Nearest Post Code EX20 3QD


 

Grayling (underwing) - Patrick Clement

Grayling

Best time to see: Jul week 1 to Sep week 1

  • Bicton Common - Map SY036851 / Nearest Post Code EX9 7BR
    Bolt Head - Map SX712375 / Nearest Post Code TQ7 3DR
    Braunton Burrows - Map SS463351 / Nearest Post Code EX33 2NU


 

Green Hairstreak - Iain H Leach

Green Hairstreak

Best time to see: May week 1 to Jun week 3

  • Aish Tor - Map SX707714 / Nearest Post Code TQ13 7NT
  • Bicton Common - Map SY036851 / Nearest Post Code EX9 7BR
  • Bolt Head - Map SX712375 / Nearest Post Code TQ7 3DR
  • Branscombe - Map SY207882 / Nearest Post Code: EX12 3DP
  • Dunsford Meadow - Map SX785892 / Nearest Post Code EX6 7DH
  • Great Torrington Commons - Map SS485193 / Nearest Post Code EX38 8DL 
     
Grizzled Skipper - Tamás Nestor

Grizzled Skipper

Best time to see: April week 3 to Jun week 2

  • Haldon - Map EX6 7QY / Nearest Post Code EX6 7QY
     

 

 

Heath Fritillary - Bob Eade

Heath Fritillary

  • Lydford Old Railway - Map SX500832 / Nearest Post Code EX20 4BL

 

 


 

High Brown Fritillary - Mark Searle

High Brown Fritillary

Best time to see: Jun week 2 to Aug week 2

  • Aish Tor - Map SX707714 / Nearest Post Code TQ13 7NT
  • Heddon Valley  - Map SS642478 / Nearest Post Code EX31 4QD



 

Marsh Fritillary - Mark Searle

Marsh Fritillary

Best time to see: May week 3 to Jun week 4

  • Dunsdon Reserve - Map SS301083 / Nearest Post Code EX22 7JW
     



 

Pearl-bordered Fritillary - Iain H Leach

Pearl-bordered Fritillary

Best time to see: Apr week 3 to May week 4

  • Aish Tor - Map SX707714 / Nearest Post Code TQ13 7NT
  • Ashclyst Forest - Map SY000998 / Nearest Post Code EX5 3DT
  • Dunsford Meadow - Map SX785892 / Nearest Post Code EX6 7DH
  • Great Torrington Commons - Map SS485193 / Nearest Post Code EX38 8DL
  • Haldon - Map EX6 7QY / Nearest Post Code EX6 7QY
  • Lydford Old Railway - Map SX500832 / Nearest Post Code EX20 4BL
     
Purple Hairstreak - Ross Lawford

Purple Hairstreak

Best time to see: Jul week 2 to Aug week 4

  • Ashclyst Forest - Map SY000998 / Nearest Post Code EX5 3DT
  • Bovey Valley Woodlands - Map SX789801 / Nearest Post Code
  • Dunsford Meadow - Map SX785892 / Nearest Post Code EX6 7DH
  • Great Torrington Commons - Map SS485193 / Nearest Post Code EX38 8DL 

     
Silver-studded Blue - Stephanie Leese

Silver-studded Blue

Best time to see: Jul week 2 to Aug week 3

  • Bicton Common - Map SY036851 / Nearest Post Code EX9 7BR
  • Bolt Head - Map SX712375 / Nearest Post Code TQ7 3DR



 

Silver-washed Fritillary (male/upperwing) - Tamás Nestor

Silver-washed Fritillary

Best time to see: Jun week 4 to Aug week 4

  • Ashclyst Forest - Map SY000998 / Nearest Post Code EX5 3DT
  • Bovey Valley Woodlands - Map SX789801 / Nearest Post Code TQ13 9SR
  • Dunsford Meadow - Map SX785892 / Nearest Post Code EX6 7DH
  • Great Torrington Commons - Map SS485193 / Nearest Post Code EX38 8DL
  • Haldon - Map EX6 7QY / Nearest Post Code EX6 7QY
  • Heddon Valley - Map SS642478 / Nearest Post Code EX31 4QD
  • Lydford Old Railway  - Map SX500832 / Nearest Post Code EX20 4BL
     
Small Blue - Heath McDonald

Small Blue

Best time to see: May week 3 to Jun week 3/ all Aug

  • Braunton Burrows - Map SS463351 / Nearest Post Code EX33 2NU
  • Berry Head (north side) - Map SX941566 / Nearerst Post Code TQ5 9AP 



 

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary - Bob Eade

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary

Best time to see: May week 1 to Jun week 4/all Aug

  • Aish Tor - Map SX707714 / Nearest Post Code TQ13 7NT
  • Ashclyst Forest - Map SY000998 / Nearest Post Code EX5 3DT
  • Bicton Common - Map SY036851 / Nearest Post Code EX9 7BR
  • Bovey Valley Woodlands - Map SX789801 / Nearest Post Code TQ13 9SR
  • Dunsford Meadow - Map SX785892 / Nearest Post Code EX6 7DH
  • Great Torrington Commons - Map SS485193 / Nearest Post Code EX38 8DL
  • Haldon - Map EX6 7QY / Nearest Post Code EX6 7QY
  • Heddon Valley - Map SS642478 / Nearest Post Code EX31 4QD
  • Lydford Old Railway - Map SX500832 / Nearest Post Code EX20 4BL
     
White Admiral - Iain H Leach

White Admiral

Best time to see: Jul week 1 to Aug week 3

  • Ashclyst Forest - Map SY000998 / Nearest Post Code EX5 3DT
  • Bovey Valley Woodlands - Map SX789801 / Nearest Post Code TQ13 9S



     
White-letter Hairstreak - Tim Melling

White-letter Hairstreak

Best time to see: Jul week 1 to Aug week 2

  • Bovey Valley Woodlands - Map SX789801 / Nearest Post Code TQ13 9SR
  • Central Park, Plymouth - Map SX474560 / Nearest Post Code PL2 3DF



     
Wood White - Mike McKenzie

Wood White

Best time to see: May week 2 to Jun week 4/all Aug

  • Branscombe - Map SY207882 / Nearest Post Code EX12 3DP
  • Meeth Quarry - Map SS540085 / Nearest Post Code EX20 3QD