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Text and photographs protected by Copyright © Adrian Hoskins 2007, and must not be published in part or in whole elsewhere without prior written permission from the author.
Butterflies of Britain & Europe
 
Small Heath
Coenonympha pamphilus LINNAEUS, 1758
Family - NYMPHALIDAE
subfamily - SATYRINAE
Tribe - SATYRINI
 
 introduction | habitats | lifecycle | adult behaviour
 
Small Heath Coenonympha pamphilus in typical resting / basking posture amongst grasses
 
Introduction
 
This is one of the most widely distributed species in the Palaearctic region, being found throughout all of temperate Europe, including most of the Mediterranean islands, and east across Asia to Mongolia. It is also widespread across most of north-west Africa.
 
Prior to the 18th century the male of this species was called the Selvedged Heath Eye, and the female was known as the Golden Heath Eye. Later it was realised that both were the same species, which became known as the Gatekeeper, a name that is now associated with another species Pyronia tithonus. The name Small Heath was proposed by the famous 18th century entomologist Moses Harris, in his book "The Aurelian".
 
In continental Europe there are several other similar Coenonympha species, but all of these have prominent ocelli on the underside hindwings. In Britain the only species with which pamphilus can be confused is the Scottish race of the Large Heath C. tullia, which has almost identical markings, but is much larger in size.
 
Small Heath Coenonympha pamphilus, male, Hurst Spit, Hampshire
 
Habitats
 
Despite it's common name, this is not primarily a heathland species, although populations do occur on the heaths of the New Forest and elsewhere.
 
In Britain the butterfly is most abundant at warm sunny south-facing sites, well drained and lightly grazed to produce a fairly sparse sward of fine grasses. These include chalk and limestone grasslands, old quarries, railway embankments, dry meadows, sand dunes, cliff tops, heaths and moors. There are strong colonies on most of the Scottish islands, except for the Shetlands and Orkney.
 
It also occurs on mountainsides, roadside verges, around field margins, and in woodland glades and wide grassy rides, although such colonies tend to be small, often dropping to unrecordably low levels for periods of several years, only to reappear following a spate of warm dry summers.
 
Small Heath Coenonympha pamphilus, female, Martin Down NNR, Hampshire
 
Lifecycle
 
In most areas of Britain the butterfly produces 2 broods, the first of which emerges as early as late April at the warmest sites, but usually in mid May elsewhere. Most areas produce a second generation emerging in August and September. In mountainous regions and in the far north there may be only a single generation, emerging in June.
 
Emergence times vary considerably from site to site. Thus it is possible to see the Small Heath on the wing at almost any time between April and October by visiting appropriate sites.
 
The eggs are spherical, straw-coloured, with reddish blotches. They are laid singly at the base of grass blades, and hatch after about 10 days.
 
The larva has several colour forms, varying from pale green to reddish-brown, but always with narrow white stripes, and tiny, twin pink and white prongs at the tail end. It feeds openly in daylight on tufts of Festuca, Agrostis and other fine grasses.
 
Some of the first brood larvae feed up quickly to produce adults in August, but others feed more slowly, so that larvae of both broods enter hibernation when about half grown. They over-winter at the base of the grasses, and resume feeding in March.
 
The pupa hangs by the cremaster from grass stems, and is pale green, marked on the wing cases with black stripes.
 
Small Heath Coenonympha pamphilus, male, Martin Down NNR, Hampshire
 
Adult behaviour
 
In the spring the butterflies nectar mainly at daisies, but the summer generation insects visits a much wider range of flowers including small scabious, marjoram, clover, thyme and heathers.
 
Small Heaths often settle on stones. The heat reflected back from such pale objects helps the butterfly to maintain a high body temperature and high energy levels needed for instant flight. Stockbridge Down, Hampshire.
 
The butterflies fly rapidly, zig-zagging or flying in tight circles just above the grasses, but rarely cover any distance. They frequently settle amongst grasses or on bare ground, and are attracted to small whitish objects such as stones, lumps of chalk, or bits of dry wood. Second brood Small Heaths often settle on the pale flower-heads of stemless thistle or stemless carline thistle.
 
Males spend long periods tilt-basking ( basking with wings closed ). By this means they can absorb enough solar energy to keep their body temperatures high. Consequently they always have sufficient energy to instantly dart up and intercept passing females, or to escape from approaching predators.
 
 
When at rest the ocellus on the forewing apex is briefly exposed, so that any bird which has seen where the butterfly settled will aim it's beak at the eyespot "target". After a few seconds, when the butterfly feels safe, it lowers the forewing, so that the ocellus is tucked out of sight behind the hindwings.
 
Males are mildly territorial - encounters with their own sex result in aerial sorties in which the pair spiral upwards flying in tight circles. When they reach a vertical threshold of about 3 metres above the ground, they split up and each male returns to ground level. In common with other territorial species, it is probable that the intruding male is usually the loser in these battles and leaves the immediate vicinity, conceding defeat to the original "owner" of the territory.
 
Mating takes place without any preliminary courtship, and mated pairs can frequently be found amongst grasses in late morning. If disturbed the pair will take flight, the female carrying the male to a bush or another clump of grass. Copulation lasts about an hour.

 

Small Heath Coenonympha pamphilus, copulated pair on hawthorn bush

 

As dusk approaches the butterflies migrate across their habitat to areas where there are long grasses and shelter from the wind. There they go to roost, either on grass-heads, or on the flowers of plantains.

 

Small Heath Coenonympha pamphilus, female at roost on plantain flower

 
                                                       
Almost every British and European species of butterfly is declining rapidly in numbers, due in most cases to loss or degradation of habitats.
 
You can help to reverse the decline by supporting conservation organisations which purchase and manage habitats as nature reserves, and which lobby government at local, national and international levels, often very successfully, to bring about changes in farming, forestry and urban development policies.
 
Please contact the conservation organisations for advice on how you can help protect British and European butterflies and their habitats. You may be able to offer practical help e.g. by monitoring butterfly populations or helping to manage nature reserves. Donations to these organisations enable them to employ ecologists and biologists. Even if you are unable to provide such help, merely having your name on the membership list can be a powerful tool for conservation organisations wishing to demonstrate the levels of support they have for their policies.

 

 
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