Map Butterfly

Habitat: Open areas in deciduous forests, along forest edges or edges with shrubs.

Appearance: The Map Butterfly (Araschnia levana) is widespread in Europe and occurs from France to Japan, and from southern Europe to southern Finland and southern Sweden. It is a common butterfly that has expanded significantly northwards and westwards in recent decades. It occurs throughout Belgium and almost throughout the Netherlands.

Flying time: Usually two generations. May to June and July to August.

Characteristics: Wingspan 28 – 40 mm.

Life cycle: Strikingly different colours in spring and summer. Its host plant is the Common Nettle (Urtica dioica) in north-western Europe, but it may also feed on other nettle species. The females are the only native butterflies to lay their eggs in stacks of up to 10 eggs. The caterpillars stay together until the final moult, when they are fully grown they sit separately. The caterpillar overwinters as a pupa. The adult butterfly drinks nectar from various spring flowers such as Mayflower, Common Dandelion, Field Mustard and later in the year from plants such as Hogweed, and seeks energy from flowers to be able to fly and lay eggs.