Visit Wester Ross - Butterflies and Dragonflies of the North West of Scotland

Butterflies, Dragonflies...

You are absolutely correct - we have expert input here. Inexpertly, the only clear thing I understand about insects is that many of them fly and bite!

However, I also know that Wester Ross has many rare insect species that live here - Dragonflies such as Azure & Northern Hawkers, Darter's like the "White faced Darter", and a range of Butterflies that are gradually changing as the climate alters.

We are not so well known for Butterflies, but these things are changing as the climate slowly alters - several species are beginning to move Northwards as the surroundings warm up a little. Who knows what we will have in a few years time?

And the often dreaded "Midge" - is it as bad as they say? The answer is a clear "no" - you only really get them when there's hardly any wind, and it is a damp warm evening. Even a gentle breeze of about 6mph + is enough for them to be unable to fly. The Midge season tends to be between early June until mid September - but realistically, they may only trouble you briefly during your visit here.

So....what about the Butterflies?

A brief look at seasons………..

Given the relatively limited number of species in the area the task of identification is, in principle, fairly straightforward, and the different types of butterfly life cycle also give a clue as to when and where to expect what. Some species over-winter as hibernating adults and can appear rapidly when conditions start improving with Spring; others spend the winter as pupae, and need only emerge as adults when winter ends. A third group over-winter as caterpillars and must pupate before emerging as adults. This tends to be reflected in the time when flying adults are seen, with the adult hibernators appearing first, followed by “pupae species” and then the “caterpillars species". There is a slight complication in that a few species come to the UK as adult migrants, and can pop up any time when conditions are suitable in spring or summer. It must be emphasised, therefore, that the description here is only a rough guide, and there is much variation between years and between sites.

………a brief look at sites

Where you look for butterflies, to some extent depends on what you hope to see. If you are happy just to identify whatever comes your way as you walk, then in favourable conditions the adults of some species can be found wherever there are good numbers of flowers. If, on the other hand, you are keen to track down some of the less common species, then you may need to be more selective in the habitats you chose to explore. However, most species are more selective when it comes to laying their eggs, and for this reason the chances of finding them may, at times, be better in the region of plants favoured for egg laying. Red Admirals and Small Tortoiseshells, for example, lay their eggs on nettles, and this is where the caterpillars may be found. It should be borne in mind that butterflies, like us, prefer to be out and about on bright sunny days with low wind speeds.

.....and when can you see them?

MARCH

If before April, then it’s almost certainly a:

Red Admiral - Peacock, or - Small Tortoiseshell.

Of the three, Red Admiral and Small Tortoiseshell are common, and the Peacock(right) is rare – but on the increase in the NW Highlands.

APRIL

The “white” butterflies should appear during this month. Green Veined White

This means the:

Small Whites - Green-veined Whites - Large Whites, although these tend to be a little later. Occasionally, the beautiful Orange Tip butterfly can be found as well, and the apparent northward expansion of this species is currently the subject of much interest. .

MAY/JUNE

This period sees the emergence of many of those species that passed the winter as caterpillars and have had to pupate before emerging as adults. This includes:

Common Blue - Most of the “brown” and “orange” butterflies

- Pearl-bordered and

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillaries (late June) - Dark Green Fritillary, pictured on the right - Small and Large Heaths (the former tending to appear first. Whilst both Large and Small Heath can be fairly common, the latter is usually the more abundant)

JULY/AUGUST

Weather permitting, these are good months for butterflies in Wester Ross.

Scotch Argus - (Occasional) Grayling - Painted Lady

- Speckled Woods - Meadow Browns - Dark Green Fritillaries.

Scotch Argus

SEPTEMBER ONWARDS

If the weather is friendly, butterflies do not disappear at the end of summer. Species like Red Admiral and Peacock can occur quite late. A Peacock was sunning itself in Inverewe Gardens on 16 October 2007, along with a rather tatty Red Admiral. The latter species was also seen on 28 October 2007. Not bad for the NW Highlands!

Dragonflies

These sound pretty fierce, and if you are a typical insect buzzing around minding your own business, I daresay that the sight of a Dragonfly heading towards you at speed would be fairly intimidating! However, these are also amongst the most beautiful and fascinating of Wester Ross's creatures - particularly when the sun catches their bodies, making the vivid colours of each species come alive with iridescent colours......appetite whetted? Read on......

Wester Ross is an excellent place to see dragonflies and damselflies. These insects need their flight muscles to be above 30° C before they can fly. So keep your eyes peeled when the sun shines. Dragonflies (including hawkers, darters and chasers) are the larger, chunkier, faster flying insects. Damselflies, as their name suggests, are delicate and sedate. Both are aerial predators, dragonflies being the most impressive to watch, zooming to 20 miles per hour in seconds! The adults can live for over 2 months but usually for only 2 to 3 weeks. The larvae, that live in ponds, pools, lochans and burns, may spend up to 5 years (though usually 2) growing slowly to maturity. When they leave the water they emerge from their larval skins as dragonflies or damselflies.

Golden-ringed Dragonfly Cordulegaster boltonii
Our largest dragonfly (7.5cm), can be found flying far away from water on hillsides, in forests and even near the tops of mountains. On the wing June to October.

Common Hawker Aeshna juncea

A restless insect, always chasing after something. Males defend territories about 50 m in length. On cool days, late in the year you can easily find females egg laying at the water’s edge. Listen out for their wings clattering against the vegetation. On the wing June to October.

Black Darter Sympetrum danae

Our smallest dragonfly, only 2.5cm long. Also the latest to emerge, often seen only after mid-July and then on to October. The males are black with yellow marks on the sides and end of their abdomen. As the males get older these fade and the abdomen goes all black.

Four-spotted Chaser Libellula quadrimaculata

If there has been a warm spring this is the earliest emerging of the dragonflies, on the wing from early May into August. Dark, hairy body and transparent cuticle allow it to warm up quickly. Flies low over peaty pools.

Highland Darter Sympetrum nigrescens

On the wing late June to October. Males are bright red, females yellowy-brown. Dart out from a perch to catch prey or seen basking on rocks by ponds or paths.

Ok, ( I hear you ask!) so what’s the difference between “Dragonflies” and “Damselflies”

DRAGONFLIES: Robust and fast; large eyes meet on top of head; front and back wing pairs are different shapes, spread when at rest.

DAMSELFLIES: Slender and sedate; small eyes do not meet on top of head; wing pairs are same shape, folded alongside body when at rest (except Emerald Damselfly: spreads 45°).

DAMSELFLIES: Large Red Pyrrhosoma nymphula, Blue-tailed Ischnura elegans, Common Blue Enallagma cyathigerum and Emerald Damselfly Lestes sponsa.

These four species can be found in just about every pond, pool or lochan in Wester Ross, they fly slowly so are easy to see.

Look for males and females linked in the tandem position flying about or laying eggs on water plants. On the wing May to October.