Butterfly Survey at Coldhams Common
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 |