Caterpillars of Butterflies of Britain & Ireland WildID guide

Identification guide to caterpillars for all 60 wild butterflies in Britain and Ireland

• Designed for speedy identification of living caterpillars in the field
• Practical for use outdoors: lightweight, rucksack-sized, splash-proof

Like many insects, butterflies have a four-stage life cycle: egg, caterpillar, pupa, and adult butterfly. Although the eggs can be hard to spot, it is often much easier to find the caterpillars. Caterpillars look very different from the adult butterflies they will become, but this guide will help you identify living caterpillars down to species level.

Designed for quick and easy identification in the field, the guide features beautiful life-size colour paintings by acclaimed artist Richard Lewington. Similar-looking caterpillars are placed close together, making it easier to compare and tell them apart.

The food plant the caterpillar is found on is another useful clue. Different caterpillars can be found at different times of year. Some species spend the winter as eggs and hatch in early spring. Others hatch in late summer, pupate in autumn, and emerge as adults the following spring. Some species have more than one generation a year and overwinter as caterpillars.

On the reverse side, concise identification notes highlight the key features to look for, along with details about distribution, food plants, and life cycle. The guide also indicates which species are legally protected in the UK.