White admiral Ladoga camilla

An elegant woodland butterfly

Habitat: large woods that are fairly shady

Confined to central southern England; Essex reduced to only one colony in Stour Wood but may now be spreading again

Dusky brown upperside with a white band across both wings; underwings have a lighter, more intricate background

Spends long periods drinking aphid honeydew in the woodland canopy

Swift elegant flight of short flits and long glides; wingspan c. 6 cm

Grey eggs looking like sea urchins laid singly on honeysuckle in late summer

Caterpillars with brown spines hibernate inside a doubled leaf from September until late May

Chrysalis hangs among honeysuckle looking like a half-dead rolled leaf, adults emerging mostly in July