# Small Heath (*Coenonympha pamphilus*)

The Small Heath butterfly is a tiny, brown butterfly that flutters around fields and meadows. It loves to bask in the sun on warm days!

- **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 2/5 · Low
- **Snaps:** 2
- **Habitat:** Grasslands and meadows
- **Also known as:** Common Heath, Heath Butterfly

![Small Heath](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426123/objects/5545.jpg)

## Appearance

The Small Heath has orange-brown wings with a distinctive small black eyespot on each forewing. Its hindwings are mottled grey-brown underneath, helping it blend in. This small size helps differentiate it from similar brown butterflies.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Arthropoda
- **Class:** Insecta
- **Order:** Lepidoptera
- **Family:** Nymphalidae
- **Genus:** Coenonympha

## Interesting facts

- Its caterpillars are bright green, making them masters of disguise in grassy fields!
- Small Heaths can have up to three generations of butterflies in just one year!
- Some Small Heath caterpillars spend winter as tiny, tough grubs, waiting for spring!
- They get their name from preferring sunny, open heathland and grassy areas.

## Special abilities

- **Camouflage Master:** Small Heath has subtly patterned hindwings that help them blend perfectly with dry grasses and leaves when at rest.
- **Flickering Flight:** Small Heath can fly with a low, erratic, flickering motion close to the ground, making them hard for predators to catch.
- **Sun-Powered Wings:** Small Heath has dark scales on its wings that absorb sunlight, helping them quickly warm up for flight on cool mornings.
- **Eye-Spot Defence:** Small Heath has a single small black 'eye-spot' on each forewing, which might confuse predators into striking a non-vital part.

## Measurements & details

- **Wingspan:** 28-34 mm
- **Size:** 10-15 mm
- **Lifespan:** 7-21 days
- **Leg Count:** 6

## Diet & Feeding

Adult Small Heaths sip nectar from flowers, while their caterpillars munch on grass.

- **Age differences:** Caterpillars feed on grasses, while adult butterflies drink nectar from flowers.
- **Primary Foods:** Nectar, Bird's-foot Trefoil, Buttercup, Hawkweeds
- **Foraging Method:** Foraging

## Ecological connections

- **Eaten by:** Eurasian Blackbird (*Turdus merula*) — Birds hunt adult butterflies.
- **Eats:** Red Fescue (*Festuca rubra*) — Caterpillars feed on grass leaves.
- **Pollinates:** [Bird's-foot Trefoil](https://www.snappit.app/explore/birds-foot-trefoil) (*Lotus corniculatus*) — Adults sip nectar and spread pollen.

## Traits

- [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats.
- [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
- [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
- [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.
- [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.

## Collections

- [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects)
- [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects-and-bugs)

## Safety

**Danger:** 2/5 · Low

Do not touch or pick up. Some insects sting or bite. Ask an adult for help.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Small Heath?

Compare the wing outline, spots, bands, eyespots and wing edges. The underside can look completely different from the top. Check for tails, the antennae and where the markings sit instead of relying on color alone. Butterfly Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### What is Small Heath's wingspan?

28-34 mm

### How big is Small Heath?

10-15 mm

### How long does Small Heath live?

7-21 days

### What does Small Heath eat?

Adult Small Heaths sip nectar from flowers, while their caterpillars munch on grass.

### Where is Small Heath usually found?

Grasslands and meadows

### How does Small Heath hunt?

Foraging

### How many legs does Small Heath have?

6

## Where to spot

- [Lesní koutek Ralsko - Mini ZOO](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lesn-koutek-ralsko-mini-zoo) — Liberec Region, CZ · Zoo
- [Skandinavisk Dyrepark](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/skandinavisk-dyrepark) — Central Denmark Region, DK · Zoo
- [Doñana National Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/do-ana-national-park) — Andalusia, ES · National Park

[View all places to see Small Heath](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/small-heath)

## More Insects

- [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*)
- [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*)
- [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*)
- [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*)

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Source: [Small Heath: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/small-heath)