From a small tortoiseshell sunning its wings on a garden buddleia, to a dark green fritillary soaring over grassland, butterflies add colour to wherever they live.
Scotland is home to more than half of Britain’s species of the insect, with several found in greater numbers than anywhere else in the UK.
Several others are migratory visitors, for instance the suphur flashes of the clouded yellow and the brimstone are occasionally seen in Scotland, but to be considered native a butterfly must regularly breed in its home country.
They all have fascinating life cycles, starting life as tiny eggs that hatch into ravenous caterpillars, eventually pupating and emerging as adults – one of the great transformative miracles of the natural world.
But it’s amazing how few butterflies the average Scot can identify, aside from the usual ‘cabbage whites’ and red admirals.
So, here are all the species to be found, along with where and when you can see them. How many can you spot in 2023?
Several others are migratory visitors, for instance the suphur flashes of the clouded yellow and the brimstone are occasionally seen in Scotland, but to be considered native a butterfly must regularly breed in its home country.
5. Comma
The Comma butterfly is easily identified by it's ususually-shaped wings - which make for perfect camouflage against a backdrop of dried leaves. The insect was thought to be extinct in Scotland for many years but there have been increasing sightings in recent times, with experts thinking that they are now breeding north of the border. In July the butterflies are laying their eggs on nettles for the first of two broods of the year.
6. Peacock
The stunning crimson peacock is one of Scotland's most common butterflies and is regularly seen in gardens. Caterpillars feed on nettles and the adults overwinter in Scotland, emerging on the first warm day of spring. Many also arrive from England over the first half of the year, bolstering numbers further.
7. Small Tortoiseshell
Another common but colourful Scottish insect, you can spot a small tortoiseshell at pretty much anytime of the year - even in the depths of winter - on a sunny day. Another butterfly whose larvae feast on nettles, it's not uncommon for adults to make their way into houses, garages and sheds to overwinter.
8. Painted Lady
Despite being relatively common in Scotland, the painted lady isn't able to overwinter here. Each year the insects arrive from southern Europe and Africa between May and September in an epic migratory journey. Occasionally we experience a 'painted lady summer' when vast numbers make the joureny and cover parks and gardens - most recently in 2009, when half a million were recorded as part of the annual BIg Butterfly Count.