Description

Wingspan 52 - 58mm. A bright, orange/yellow butterfly with black borders to the wings. The female has incomplete black borders to the hind wings. They normally close their wings on landing making it difficult to differentiate male from female.

Habitat

Grasslands and meadows where clovers are abundant. The caterpillars feed on the leaves of clovers and bird's-foot trefoil.

Status and distribution

This species is an immigrant to Britain and does not always appear every year. Commonest in the south of England. Some years there are good numbers at Netherfield Lagoons and they have bred there, but other years none may arrive.

Best time to see

May to October.