The poor state of butterflies in the UK is well known. This list of butterflies is a start to help create a view of what butterflies are in local area. It is unscientific and is based on my own personal sightings in the village supplemented by previous year’s data of butterflies recorded at Pensthorpe through a formal transect process. The blank entry for Large Skippers (a common butterfly) in the village, does not mean they are not around but simply I did not see one. Again there is no volumetric or quantity data about how many butterflies were seen.
With your help we can improve this list. Please send in and all sighting of butterflies: location, species, quantity to info.ryburghwildlife@gmail.com – we can do the rest.
| Species | 2024 | 2011-2023 | comments |
| Small Skipper | Y | Y | Recorded at Pensthorpe until 2023. One recorded in set aside near Mill Road August 2024. |
| Essex Skipper | Y | Y | Recorded at Pensthorpe until 2023 and again in 2024. Told from Small Skipper by its black antennae. |
| Large Skipper | Y | Recorded at Pensthorpe until 2023. Usually found is areas of bramble and scrub. | |
| Clouded Yellow | Y | Vagrant brought in be prevailing wind. Previously recorded at Pensthorpe. | |
| Brimstone | Y | Y | common species |
| Large White | Y | Y | common species |
| Small White | Y | Y | common species |
| Green-veined White | Y | Y | Recorded at Pensthorpe until 2023. Seen in the village spring and late summer 2024. |
| Orange Tip | Y | Y | common species |
| Green Hairstreak | Y | Recorded at Pensthorpe until 2023. Not seen in the village. | |
| Purple Hairstreak | Y | No sightings in 2024. Flies at top of oak trees. Last seen July 2023 near St Andrews church. | |
| White-letter Hairstreak | Needs Elm as food plant. | ||
| Small Copper | Y | Y | Recorded at Pensthorpe until 2023. Seen September 14/9/2024 west Maltings field. |
| Brown Argus | Y | Recorded at Pensthorpe until 2023. Not seen in the village in 2024 | |
| Common Blue | Y | Y | Recorded at Pensthorpe until 2023. At least two sightings in the village in August 2024. |
| Holly Blue | Y | Y | common species |
| Red Admiral | Y | Y | common species. Mass influx (50+) seen 6/9/24 |
| Painted Lady | Y | Y | vagrant brought in be prevailing wind. Three seen Mill Road 11/9/24 |
| Small Tortoiseshell | Y | Y | once a common species, very scarce sightings in 2024. |
| Peacock | Y | Y | common species |
| Comma | Y | Y | common species |
| Speckled Wood | Y | Y | common species |
| Wall Brown | Y | One sighting seen August on grassy field margin near community woodland. | |
| Gatekeeper | Y | Y | common species |
| Meadow Brown | Y | Y | common species |
| Small Heath | Y | Recorded at Pensthorpe until 2023. Not seen in village in 2024 | |
| Ringlet | Y | Y | Recorded at Pensthorpe until 2023. Several sightings in village during 2024. |
| Silver Washed Fritillary | Y | Y | Recorded at Pensthorpe until 2023 and again in 2024. Woodland specialists. |
| White Admiral | Y | Recorded at Pensthorpe until 2023. Woodland specialists. Not seen in village in 2024. | |