Flight Periods | Hampshire Butterflies and Moths by Ashley Whitlock

Hampshire Butterfly Species - Flight Periods

The chart below provides a guide to the typical flight periods of Hampshire's butterflies. In compiling the chart, I have aimed to take account of the trend in recent years towards earlier flight periods, probably resulting from climate change. Nevertheless it can only provide a guide, since variations will occur due to:

Seasonal fluctuations. Flight periods can vary by a week or so from year to year as a result of natural seasonal fluctuations, and even longer in the case of spring butterflies.

The ecology of individual sites. The emergence and resulting flight periods of species which are found in more than one habitat type (eg downland, heathland or woodland clearings) can vary by at least one week (and sometimes more than two weeks). Variations of a few days occur even from site to site of the same type.

The size of a colony. Smaller than average colonies tend to have shorter flight periods.

The two-tone graphic format is intended to depict the profile of the flight period from the start of emergence (orange), though to its peak (red), followed by a gradual tail-off (orange). The chart should be read in conjunction with the species descriptions and in particular 'When To See' for additional contextual information about flight periods.