#2403 · 🦋 butterflies & moths

Small Heath

🇳🇱 Hooibeestje ·Coenonympha pamphilus

🦋 Butterflies & moths 📍 in the Netherlands

10 photos from iNaturalist (Creative Commons) · credits & licences

what is it?

The small heath ( Coenonympha pamphilus ) is a butterfly species belonging to the family Nymphalidae, subfamily Satyrinae (commonly known as "the browns"). It is the smallest butterfly in this subfamily. The small heath is diurnal and flies with a noticeable fluttering flight pattern near the ground. It rests with closed wings when not in flight. It is widespread in colonies throughout the grasslands of Eurasia and north-western Africa, preferring drier habitats than other Coenonympha . However, habitat loss...

base stats

NL sightings 1,174iNaturalist, research grade
worldwide 70,687iNaturalist observations

Bars compare against all animals on log scales: up to 300,000 Dutch and 600,000 worldwide sightings (the most-seen species), 150 t (blue whale), 30 m and 400 years (Greenland shark).

fun facts

Spotted 1,174 times in the Netherlands on iNaturalist: the #19 most seen of the butterflies & moths in NL.
70,687 observations worldwide on iNaturalist.
Scientifically named in 1758 (268 years ago).