Invertebrates

Due to grassland, woodland edges, and urban garden habitats, Aston’s Eyot is a good place to see butterflies, snails and moths.

A good place to see most species is along Plantation Path after midday, where the edge of the plantation creates a sunny sheltered spot. The huge nettlebeds support the caterpillars of butterflies as well as many moths. Below, you’ll see a long list of confirmed species that have been spotted on the eyot. If you’d like to contribute to our observations, then please email us at info@friendsofastonseyot.org. You can use our butterfly and moth checksheet (PDF, 41KB) to help you.

Aston’s Eyot butterfly and moth list

• Small Skipper – Thymelicus sylvestris: butterflies thought in the past to be this species all turn out to be the very similar Essex Skippers – but it may occur as it has recently been seen on Christ Church Meadow.
• Essex Skipper – Thymelicus lineola: mostly seen July & August.
• Large Skipper – Ochlodes venata: flies June-August.
• Dingy Skipper – Erynnis tages: occurred in the past when there was more rough grass with Birds-foot trefoil.
• Clouded Yellow – Colias croceus: rare migrant from continental Europe; seen August 2013 and July 2020.
• Brimstone – Gonepteryx rhamni: hibernators fly late March & April, followed by the next generation from May through the summer.
• Large White – Pieris brassicae: seen April-September – supplemented by migrants in spring.
• Small White – Pieris rapae: on the wing March-October, the classic ‘cabbage white’.
• Green-veined White – Pieris napi: mostly seen May-August.
• Orange Tip – Anthocharis cardamines: hibernators emerge in April, followed by a brood in May-June.
• Brown Hairstreak – Thecla betulae: overwintering eggs are regularly found on Blackthorn; it should be on the wing in August & September, but it is hard to spot.
• Purple Hairstreak – Favonius quercus: not yet recorded, but worth looking for on Oak tree crowns in July.
• Small Copper – Lycaena phlaeas: can be seen from March to October; somewhat irregular on Aston’s Eyot.
• Brown Argus – Aricia agestis: not reported after 1994 until 2018 when it reappeared, but only singles seen in that year and 2020. Flies in May-June & August. NB: needs photo to confirm, as very similar to female Common Blue.
• Common Blue – Polyommatus icarus: a post-hibernation emergence in April is followed by a new generation in June-July; small numbers on Aston’s Eyot/Kidneys.
• Holly Blue – Celastrina argiolus: The first brood flies in April-May, the second in July-August.
• Red Admiral – Vanessa atalanta: overwintering adults fly in late March/April, main emergence in late summer.
• Painted Lady – Vanessa cardui: migrant from the continent, infrequent on Aston’s Eyot though more often seen in local gardens.
• Small Tortoiseshell – Aglais urticae: overwintering adults fly in late March/April, main emergences in June & August-September.
• Peacock – Inachis io: overwintering adults fly in late March/April, main emergence in late summer.
• Comma – Polygonia c-album: overwintering adults fly in late March/April, main emergence from June onwards.
• Speckled Wood – Pararge aegeria: has a long season, can be seen from April through to October or even November.
• Marbled White – Melanargia galathea serena: not seen since 1987 until 2011; initially Kidneys, spread to restored meadows on AE; small numbers only.
• Gatekeeper / Hedge Brown – Pyronia tithonus: mostly on the wing in July & August.
• Meadow Brown – Maniola jurtina: mostly seen June-September.
• Small Heath – Coenonympha pamphilus: only recorded in July 2011.
• Ringlet – Aphantopus hyperantus: on the wing in July & August.

Moths – over 250 species have been recorded so far on the Eyot, and some are very numerous. This is an ongoing project.

Aston’s Eyot’s snails

Snails have sometimes featured in our calendars, but until 2024 they hadn’t been looked at by a snail expert. You can find out more about snails on the eyot from sampling in June 2024 (PDF, 128KB).

(List last revised 25.03.2022)