Glanville fritillary

(Ian Pratt)

One of the most localised of all our wildlife species, found only in the Isle of Wight, apart from occasional sightings on the nearby Hampshire coast. Similar in appearance to the rare heath fritillary but the beige and orange bands on the underwings are distinctive. Named after Lady Eleanor Glanville, who first captured specimens in the 1690s.

Larval foodplant: Ribwort plantain

Where seen: The undercliffs and chines of the coast of the Isle of Wight

Current conservation status: One of Britain's rarest butterflies because of its localised status but despite enormous fluctuations in the population from year to year, no evidence of any major decline.