White Admiral (Limenitis camilla)

Family: Nymphalidae Checklist: 59.021

 
Description
Wing span: 56-64 mm. The White Admiral has brownish-black upper surfaces, with a white band on both wings. The sexes are similar although the female is slightly larger. It has an elegant gliding flight through the canopy. It is found in central and southern England, and the eastern counties of Wales. By 1900 it was restricted to southern England. However, there has been a reversal of fortune, with the butterfly reaching its former distribution that extends as far north as Lincolnshire. It is found in deciduous and mixed woods where the larval foodplant grows.
 
Images (click to enlarge)
White Admiral ♂ © David Hastings
White Admiral ♂ underside © David Hastings
Male Male underside Female Female underside
 
Life Cycle
Adults emerge in the second half of June and peak in the first part of July. There is usually one brood each year, but in some years there may be a partial second one in late summer.
 
Larval Foodplants
The primary larval food plant is Honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum). This must be growing in shady woodland for successful development of the larvae.
 
Nectar Sources
Adults feed primarily on honeydew and sap. Betony, Bramble, Hogweed, Privet and Thistles are also used.
 
UK Conservation Status
Vulnerable
 
Earliest UTB first sighting (since 2004) : 4th June
Mean UTB first sighting (since 2004) : 16th June
 
Species Champion
Julia Huggins
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Reports
 
Distribution and Sites
 

Key
1 sighting 2-9 max seen 10+ max seen
This species is a habitat specialist. It can be found at these sites:
Berkshire
Bowdown Wood
Fence Wood
Moor Copse
Buckinghamshire
Bernwood Forest
Black Park
Chinkwell Wood
College Wood
Finemere Wood
Homefield Wood
Howe Park Wood
Little Linford Wood
Rushbeds Wood/Lapland Farm Meadows
Oxfordshire
Foxholes
Piddington Wood
Shotover Country Park
Waterperry Wood
Whitecross Green Wood

 
Related Species
All Species