Two new butterflies are out and about. Marbled whites are flitting above the grass tops on downland and in other chalky country. They are like a chequerboard of brown and white, with a necklace of white spots at the back of the hind wings, and they settle with their wings open, so these markings can be clearly seen. They like to take nectar from the purple flowerheads of knapweed, which is just opening. After mating, the females just drop their eggs into the grass, and when they hatch the tiny caterpillars climb up the grass blades.

Ringlet butterflies are bobbing up and down among the long grass at the shady edges of woods. They also swirl up over the brambles to sip nectar from the pale white flowers. They have dark brown wings with a fine white margin all round them. When they settle with closed wings, one can see the five or so little rings on the undersides that distinguish them. Ringlet females also scatter their eggs loosely in the grass.