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 2025?
21. Small Heath
Found in almost every part of Scotland, the small heath can commonly be seen in dry grassland areas from the middle June to the middle of August. Their small size means they are inconspicuous, but they are very pretty when you get close. | Canva/Getty Images
22. Large Heath
Far less widespread than the small heath (and not that much larger), there are actually two slightly different types of large heath in Scotland. Seen in the bogs of lowland Scotland, the polydama sub-species (pictured) flies in June and July and has large spots on its underwings. Meanwhile, the scotia sub-species, found in in July and August in the north and west of the country, lacks these spots, making it hard to tell apart from the small heath. | Canva/Getty Images
23. White-letter Hairstreak
One of three species of tiny hairstreak found in Scotland, the white-letter hairstreak was thought to be extinct for decades but populations are now found in the Borders. Tricky to spot, they tend to spend most of their time in the tree tops from June to July. | Canva/Getty Images
24. Green Hairstreak
Impossible to confuse with any other insect due to its vivid green underside, the green hairstreak is found in moorland and marshy areas acorss Scotland, living in colonies. They are active from May to June. | Canva/Getty Images