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?
29. Northern Brown Argus
Oftten confused with the female common blue, but with no hint of blue on the upperwings, the northern brown argus can be found in the south east of Scotland and the Borders. Particularly fond of sunny slopes in coastal reas, they are around from May until July. | Canva/Getty Images
30. Small Copper
The small copper butterfly has two broods each year - the first is on the wing in May and the second in August. They are widespread in both countryside and urban areas and can be seen on warm and sunny days. The metallic colour that they are named after makes them easy to identify, although you're unlikley to see more than a couple in any one place - the males are very territorial and chase away rival butterflies. | Canva/Getty Images
31. Small Skipper
One of five species of skipper found in Scotland, like all its family the small skipper is often confused with a moth due to its slightly strange appearance and rapidly-fluttering wings. Increasingly common in southern and central Scotland in recent years, it can be found in long grass from Juen to August. | Canva/Getty Images
32. Essex Skipper
Only known to live in a single colony near Lockerie in Scotland, the Essex skipper can be differentiated from the very similar small skipper by the colour of the tips of its antennae - black rather than orange. | Canva/Getty Images