Small Heath

The Small Heath is a delicate grassland butterfly with soft orange-brown upper wings that do not have the distinctive eyespots seen in many similar species. The underside of the wings is more helpful for identification, showing a greyish-brown background with a pale band and a small white-centred eyespot near the tip of the front wing. This butterfly usually keeps its wings closed and upright when resting, rarely opening them. It is found widely across the British Isles, although its numbers are falling in many places. The Small Heath lives in natural grasslands, heathlands, coastal dunes, and the edges of moorlands. It prefers areas with fine-leaved grasses, especially fescues, which its caterpillars feed on. Its flight is weak and has a bouncing quality, flying low over the plants. Adult butterflies are active from May to September, with several generations during this time. The highest numbers are seen in the middle of summer.