About Us

Atropos is the UK journal for butterfly, moth and dragonfly enthusiasts, published four times a year including an annual Migration Review, available by subscription only.

Issue 1 was published in May 1996 on realisation that a new publication was needed to deliver authoritative and highly topical content to Lepidoptera and Odonata enthusiasts. The intervening years have seen many changes, but the core values of the publication remain the same, and the commitment of the editorial team to produce quality content in a highly readable and beautifully produced magazine have not faltered.

Unique and varied content

A central theme of Atropos is insect migration, but its unique and varied content covers all subjects relevant to British Lepidoptera and Odonata, including conservation, identification, biology, field observations and material on Western Palearctic species of relevance to Britain. There are also occasional features on other popular insect groups, including grasshoppers, bees and ladybirds. Each issue contains a mixture of in-depth articles and lighter features, written by both professionals and amateurs.

The editorial team contains some of the top names in British entomology, all dedicated enthusiasts.

Migration Review

Atropos Migration Review 2019

Such is the importance of migration that one whole issue is dedicated to it every year. The main migration events are examined in detail along with additions to the British list and the occurrence of pyralid and macro-moths with less than 20 British records. The Migration Review covers butterflies, moths and dragonflies, and is liberally illustrated throughout. The ever-popular Reports from Coastal Stations summarises the year from various hotspots around the British Isles and can reveal some surprising trends and similarities between sites, including the occurrence of species as migrants that are more often thought of as resident. There is still much to learn about the fascinating subject of insect migration and the Migration Review will keep you at the forefront of understanding.

Stunning Imagery

Atropos is devoted to securing for publication the very best images available from some the UK’s most talented photographers, and also in the pains taken to reproduce these images to a very high standard in the printed magazine.