Duke of Burgundy

Scientific name: Hamearis lucina

This beautiful orange and brown butterfly is now a rare sight in the UK

Species information

Statistics

Wingspan: 30 mm

Conservation status

UK BAP status: Priority Species

When to see

Adults: April to June

About

The Duke of Burgundy is a small butterfly that takes to the wing in mid-to-late spring. They can be found on chalk and limestone grasslands with some slopes or scrub to provide shelter, or sometimes in woodland with large rides, glades and clearings. Their numbers have crashed in recent decades. Since the 1980s, their distribution has shrunk by around 89%; they are now only found in a few parts of England.

Males are very territorial. They defend small, sunny patches a few metres wide. They'll often perch on a plant, waiting to chase off rivals or follow any females that fly by. After mating, females flutter from foodplant to foodplant, laying their eggs on the undersides of leaves.

The caterpillars feed on primroses and cowslips. They usually spend the day hiding near the base of the plant, climbing up to feast on leaves during the night. In late summer, the fully-fed caterpillars pupate on the ground or in a grassy tussock. They'll emerge as butterflies the following spring.

How to identify

A very small orange and brown butterfly. The uppersides of the wings are brown with a mosaic of orange markings. The undersides of the hind wings are dark orange-brown with rows of white spots. All wings have a chequered brown and white border.

Caterpillars are brown and covered in grey hairs. They have an orange head and a dark line running along the back, with distinct black spots spaced out within the line. They also have a row of faint yellow patches each side of the dark line.

Distribution

The Duke of Burgundy has been lost from most of the UK and is now only found in a few parts of England. Its stronghold is central southern England, with isolated populations in Kent, the Midlands, North Yorkshire and northwest England.

Habitats

Did you know?

The Duke of Burgundy belongs to a group of butterflies known as the 'metalmarks', though it is the only member of this group found in the UK. Most male metalmark butterflies, including the Duke of Burgundy, only have four functional legs - the front legs are reduced and not used for walking. Females have six functional legs.