Howbery Park
The Small Copper has been seen in five of the years 1990-99, but never more than three in a year. Its appearance is well spread through the year from early May to mid October, as it has three broods per year. It is a very attractive little butterfly, usually seen basking on a warm patch of ground.
The Brown Argus has been seen in four of the years 1990-99, generally not more than one per year. The two sightings in 1999 were both at the same place a few days apart, so are probably the same individual. The individuals are probably just passing though looking for suitable habitat, but the caterpillar food-plant of rock-rose is not commonly found on the site so a population is unlikely to build up. It is a member of the Blue family (although both males and females are a deep chocolate brown with no trace of blue), and it is also described under that grouping.
The Marbled White (which is actually a member of the Brown family) has been seen in four of the years 1990-99, with a maximum of two individuals in 1994. Like the other two Occasionals in this group, individuals are probably exploring for suitable new habitat. In this case it is more surprising that it has not colonised as the requirements of unmown grass can be found in many parts of the site, and it is found in reasonable numbers in fields within half a mile of Howbery Park. But it is apparently a fussier eater than the other Browns, requiring specific grass species for its caterpillars. It flies in July and August, and is sometimes seen here only as a fleeting glimpse, although at other times settled individuals have been seen on the site. Marbled Whites are good at colonising suitable territory, and a resident population would be a welcome addition to the butterflies commonly seen at Howbery Park.
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| Analysis Procedure | 10 Year Summary | 5 Year Summary | Skippers |
| Early Whites | Common Whites | Blues | Migrants |
| Hibernators | Woodland Browns | Grassland Browns | Occasionals |