Field Guide to the Butterflies of Wales

About this book

Wales has a diverse range of butterflies – from the familiar Peacock to the elusive Large Heath, from the blisteringly quick High Brown Fritillary to the dainty Wood White, from the shimmering Silver-studded Blue to the orange glow of the Brown Hairstreak. This identification guide covers the 44 species present in Wales, and includes explanations of their lifecycles, distribution maps highlighting where they are likely to be found and a section on rare migrants that have been encountered here and may occur again in the future.

Butterflies are not just delicate insects flitting around our meadows, gardens and hedgerows; they are far more complicated than that. Their lifecycles are fascinating, and in some cases, it seems a wonder that they survive at all. Moreover, butterflies are key pollinators as well as excellent indicator species: when their numbers dwindle or they are absent, something is wrong – a cause for concern and should be investigated.

This book is ideal for people living in Wales keen to identify their local butterfly species, and for visitors interested in watching these charming insects.

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Biography

Ben Williams has been interested in all things natural since, aged four, he caused pandemonium in his grandmother’s kitchen after returning from a walk with a frog in his coat pocket. With an MSc in Coastal Conservation and Management from the University of Glamorgan, Ben went on to work as Rivers Project Officer for Keep Wales Tidy. In his spare time, he volunteered and worked as a contractor on habitat management for butterflies, assisting Butterfly Conservation (South Wales).