Coldham’s Common is one of the best sites within the city of Cambridge to see butterflies. In a weekly survey carried out between 1st April and the 30th Sept 2019 a total of 23 species were recorded and are listed in the table below.
The star butterfly has to be the Marbled White, a species which has expanded its range eastwards in recent years, and Coldham’s Common is now home to one of two breading colonies in the city (the other being Trumpington Meadows)
Species | Common Name | Best time of year to see adult. |
Thymelicus sylvestris | Small Skipper | Late June – Aug |
Thymelicus lineola | Essex Skipper | July – Aug |
Ochlodes sylvanus | Large Skipper | June – Aug |
Gonepteryx rhamni | Brimstone | March – May & Sept – Oct |
Pieris rapae | Small White | May – June & Aug |
Pieris brassicae | Large White | Late April – June & Sept. |
Pieris napi | Green-veined White | April – May & July – Aug |
Anthocharis cardamines | Orange-tip | Mid April – June & Late Aug – early Sept |
Lycaena phlaeas | Small copper | May, July – Aug – Sept |
Aricia agestis | Brown Argus | Mid May – June & Aug – Sept |
Polyommatus icarus | Common Blue | Mid May – June & Aug – Sept |
Celastrina argiolus | Holly Blue | April – May & July – Aug |
Vanessa atalanta | Red Admiral | May – Sept |
Vanessa cardui | Painted Lady | April – June & Aug – Sept |
Aglais urticae | Small Tortoiseshell | April – Sept |
Polygonia c-album | Comma | March – May & July – Sept |
Aglais io | Peacock | March – May & Sept – Oct |
Melanargia galathea | Marbled White | July – Aug |
Pyronia tithonus | Gatekeeper | July – Sept |
Maniola jurtina | Meadow Brown | Mid June – mid Sept |
Aphantopus hyperantus | Ringlet | July – Aug |
Pararge aegeria | Speckled Wood | April, June and Aug-Sept |
Coenonympha pamphilus | Small Heath | Late May – mid July & late Aug-Sept |