Options For Recording • Submit your records online www.habitas.org.uk/records/bhp

and add pictures as it helps with verifying the record. Records go directly to Northern Ireland’s Centre for Environmental Data and Recording (CEDaR) and are used for conservation purposes

• Fill in the form left and put the tear- off section into the box at leaflet dispenser as you leave, or post it back to us.

• Go to www.belfasthills.org and get involved by clicking ‘Record Biodiversity’

• Additional help with identification can be found with iSpot, Butterfly Conservation or the Butterfly and Moths of Northern Ireland website www.habitats.org.uk/moths/

FIELD NOTES

Good places to see these key butterflies and moths in the Belfast Hills

Ligoniel Dams | Slievenacloy | Cave Hill | Colin Glen

Check our website for details of how to get to the sites by car

Other butterflies and moths you may see:

Red Admiral | Speckled Wood | Peacock | Ringlet Poplar Hawk Moth | Small Tortoiseshell | Golden Y

Clouded Yellow | Small Heath | Painted Lady

Permit No 80257. This material is based upon Crown Copyright and is reproduced with the permission of Land & Property Services under delegated authority from the Controller of her Majesty’s Stationery

Office Crown Copyright and database rights 2009.

Key Birds of Prey

Become a wildlife detective and help us find and record these declining species

KEY BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS

Become a wildlife detective and help us find and record these declining species

Recording Card

Nam

e ................................................................ Tel ................................................................... Email ..................................................................

Help protect our key upland butterflies and mothsWhy: Northern Ireland has 25 species of butterfly and over

1,000 species of moths of which several are in rapid decline and need urgent conservation. They are excellent indicators of the health of our environment as they react very quickly to change. Butterflies and moths are not only beautiful to look at but they have a vital role to play in feeding us as they pollinate crops we eat. They also are a valuable food source for other wildlife. Recording these declining species in the Hills will help us monitor their numbers and ensure their protection.

How: When visiting the Belfast Hills go prepared to record butterflies and day flying moths and send your sightings into us or CEDaR using one of the methods shown on the back cover.

Training and Volunteering: Check the websites of Belfast Hills Partnership, Centre for Environmental data and Recording www.nmni.com/cedar and Butterfly Conservation Northern Ireland www.bcni.org.uk for training, surveying and volunteering events. BCNI have a good butterfly guide and identification section too.

Belfast Hills Partnership, 9 Social Economy Village, Hannahstown Hill, Belfast BT17 0XS Tel 028 90603466

Email info@belfasthills.org www.belfasthills.org

Top Tips for Watching Wildlife

• Check the weather forecast and dress accordingly• Butterflies only fly on warm days• Keep dogs on leads• Find somewhere to sit and be patient• Don’t disturb any wildlife or damage their habitat• Follow the country code• Leave no trace behind you• Take care not to trespass on private land

USEFUL GEAR TO BRINGCamera, Mobile phone, Notebook and pen,

Butterfly identification guide

Species N

o D

ate Location

(and Grid Ref if possible)

Notes

Com

mon B

lue

Holly B

lue

Marsh Fritillary

D

ark green Fritillary

Graying

Orange-tip

N

arrow-bordered B

ee Haw

kmoth

N

arrow-bordered Five-spot B

urnet

O

ther

Seen April to October.

Habitat Open wooded areas along hedgerows.

ID Bright blue with silvery underside with black spots. Similar to Common Blue but has no orange spots on underwing. Flies high around bushes.

Facts They often have a second brood and as their name suggests, their food plant is the flowers of the Holly bush.

Seen June to September.

Habitat Flower rich grassland and cutaway bogs.

ID Large and powerful with strong flight. Dull orange upper wing and green underwing with large silver spots.

Fact Larvae feed on Wild Pansy and Violet.

Seen Late March to July.

Habitat Damp grassy places and woodland rides.

ID Males have prominent orange patch on fore wing. Females are plain with a dot and a black tip to their wings. Both sexes have green marbling on underwing. Because the female is very similar to several other species of white butterflies, only record male Orange-tips.

Fact Larvae feed on Cuckoo Flower.

Seen June to August.

Habitat Wild flower rich grassland.

ID Bluish black wings with five red spots on each. Similar to Six-spot Burnet Moths but have narrower, more pointed wings. Also to Cinnabar Moths* which are similar in colour but have stripes, spots and brilliant red underwings.

Fact Larvae feed on Bird’s–foot Trefoil and other legumes.

Seen May to July. Look out for caterpillars sunning themselves on their web in early spring.

Habitat Tussocky, wildflower-rich grassland with Devil’s-bit Scabious plant, edges of bogs and fens.

ID Mixed orange and cream square pattern on upperwing. Jagged cream and orange bands on underwing.

Fact Larvae live together in silky web, hibernating through the winter and emerging to pupate in spring. They feed on Devil’s-bit Scabious.

Seen June to September.

Habitat Bare ground, rock, dry grassland and heath.

ID Black and grey striping to front of upper wing. Cryptic grey-brown pattern on underwing which acts as camouflage. Often seen on hot, sunny rocks with wings closed and eye spot hidden. Similar to Meadow Brown which prefer grassy places.

Fact Caterpillars feed on grasses.

Seen Mid May to mid June. Best seen in late morning / early afternoon.

Habitat Wild flower rich peatland and grassland.

ID Translucent wings and two black bands on abdomen. Larger than a bee. Similar to Hummingbird Hawk Moth, a migrant that hovers around flowers.

Fact Larvae feed on Field or Devil’s-bit Scabious.

COMMON BLUE

DARK GREEN FRITILLARY *

ORANGE-TIP

NARROW-BORDERED FIVE-SPOT BURNET MOTH

MARSH FRITILLARY * GRAYLING * NARROW–BORDERED BEE HAWK MOTH*

Key species to look out for

Affix

St

amp

Those marked with * are on the Northern Ireland Priority Species List because they are rare or in decline.

MALE FEMALE

Seen May to October.

Habitat Sunny sheltered areas where Bird’s-foot Trefoil grows.

ID Male is deep blue, female more brown with orange spots on underwing. Low flying. Similar to Holly Blue which is lighter blue and flies higher around bushes.

Fact Larvae feed on Bird’s-foot Trefoil and other legumes.

HOLLY BLUE

UNDERWING

CATERPILLAR WEB GRAYLING

MEADOW BROWN

NARROW-BORDED FIVE SPOT BURNET MOTH

NARROW-BORDERED BEE HAWK MOTH

HUMMINGBIRD HAWK MOTH

MALE FEMALE

There are plenty of other butterflies and moths to look out for. See flipside of leaflet for list.

Belf

ast H

ills

Part

ners

hip

9 S

ocia

l Eco

nom

y V

illag

eH

anna

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wn

Hill

Bel

fast

BT1

7 0

XS

Les HillDavid_G_Green (BC)

Mark Coller

David Pashley

Andy Seely

Nick EdgeMartin Warren (BC) B Noake (BC)

Tim Melling UrbanWildlifeUK

Tracy & Richard Fox (BC) Mark Coller

Nick Edge

Joe Lenton

CINNABAR MOTH

SIX -SPOT BURNET MOTH

Stephen Rutt