Large Heath

Name: Large Heath

Scientific name: Coenonympha tullia

Category: Minibeasts

Nature Stars: 80

What are nature stars?

About: The Large Heath is a rare butterfly which is in decline in much of the UK although it is much more common in parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland.  It can only be found in wet, boggy habitats.  Caterpillars are green with white stripes along their sides.  They feed on Hare's-tail Cotton Grass.  The food plant of the adult butterfly is Cross-leaved Heath.

How to identify: The Large Heath is small to medium sized brown butterfly. It has a cream, wavy stripe across the centre of the underside of the wings, and 'eyespots' along the edges of the undersides of the wings. The size of these spots varies, from large spots on butterflies in more southern regions to virtually no spots in northern Scotland.

Where: Found in northern Britain and Ireland.  There are a few isolated colonies in Wales and central England.

Natural Superpowers

• Predator: 10
• Agility: 20
• Rarity: 80
• Cute factor: 40
• Traveller: 20

Fantastic fact: The Large Heath always rests with its wings closed.

Photograph credit: Stefan Johansson