Cryptic Wood White

Northern Ireland is famous for many reasons, but the butterflies and moths that are found here should definitely be one of them. Although home to only 25 species of butterfly, almost half of these are priority species. One of these, the Cryptic Wood White (thought to be Real's Wood White until recent research proved it to be a new species entirely) is only found in Northern Ireland and not elsewhere in the UK. Craigavon Lakes Local Nature Reserve in County Armagh is the very best place to visit to see this butterfly on the wing during May and June.

Other butterflies you will find here include the Marsh Fritillary, a species threatened across Europe. Recent research into the Marsh Fritillary in Northern Ireland has shown that here the butterfly appears to be stable rather than declining, with many new breeding sites recently discovered in Counties Tyrone and Fermanagh to the west.

The unspoilt raised bogs of counties Antrim, Londonderry and Tyrone boast populations of the Large Heath, and the rugged coastline of County Down is one of the last remaining places in Northern Ireland where you are guaranteed to come across the Wall Brown, along with the more widespread but equally threatened Grayling.

There are almost 1000 different types of moth in Northern Ireland. These secretive creatures are most often active at night, although many fly during the day. However as it is a common 'moth myth' that moths are small and brown, if spotted, many day-flying moths are thought be some sort of butterfly as they are often very brightly coloured and patterned.

To find out more about what butterfly and moth species are found here and some of the best places to visit in Northern Ireland to see them, see our Butterflies and Day-flying moths of Northern Ireland leaflet, available as a pdf in the downloads section.

BC Northern Ireland are grateful to the Northern Ireland Environment Agency who have funded our work in Northern Ireland since 2002.