LEPIDOPTERA (Butterflies & Moths) > PAPILIONOIDEA (Butterflies) > Nymphalidae > Satyrinae

This group includes eleven native species collectively known as the 'browns' due, in the main, to the ground colour of their wings. There is one exception though just to confuse matters, much like the Brown Argus being classified as a 'blue', the Marble White is a 'brown' and not a 'white'. Apart from that anomaly they do have mainly brown wings, mostly marked to some degree in orange or cream, and with one or more wing spots. They are all distinctive, but none more so that the beautifully patterned Marble White, which has to rate as one of our most photogenic butterflies.

I guess I'm fortunate that a number of these species occur close to where I live. In fact, all the species featured below can be found within a 15-minute drive from home. The only Dorset 'brown' that I've yet to encounter is the Wall Brown [Lasiommata megera] that occurs at a few coastal locations. Hopefully I'll be able to add it to my list at some point in the future. The three species that I definitely won't see locally are the Large Heath, Mountain Ringlet and Scotch Argus, as they're all northern and/or Scottish butterflies.

The Marbled White [Melanargia galanthea], Speckled Wood [Parage aegeria], Ringlet [Aphantopus hyperantus] and Gatekeeper [Pyronia tithonus] are particularly attractive species if found when fresh. Although they may settle with their wings closed, they readily spread them when the sun is shining. Similarly with the Meadow Brown [Maniola jurtina] although, in my opinion, that species doesn't have the same allure as the others. That's probably a bit unfair, but they're often quite drab and faded. The Small Heath [Coenonympha pamphilus] is another that I tend to ignore, which was evident when I tried to find a photo for this collection! They invariably settle low down in in the grass, which makes them awkward to photograph. And, as with the Grayling [Hipparchia semele], they virtually always settle with their wings closed. Graylings occur on a couple of local heaths where they can occasionally be photographed on heather, which can add a bit of interest and colour, but most of the time they prefer to settle on the bare sandy paths.