Small Heath Coenonympha pamphilus

The Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus) is Britain’s smallest resident butterfly – a delicate, tawny-orange species that rarely settles with its wings open. Despite its unassuming appearance, it is an important indicator of grassland health. It has declined substantially across the UK, with losses linked to habitat degradation and agricultural intensification. In Suffolk, it is found across heathlands, coastal grasslands, and unimproved meadows, with the Sandlings and coastal fringes supporting some of the county’s stronger populations. It is double-brooded in warm years, with adults on the wing from May through to September. Image: © Jakob Fahr, iNaturalist.

Find out more: iNaturalist, Suffolk Wildlife Trust, Butterfly Conservation, UK Butterflies