About Steve Woodhall
about
Steve Woodhall
Steve Woodhall’s fascination with butterflies and moths began at the tender age of five in Heywood, Greater Manchester, UK. An early encounter, where he proudly presented a captured butterfly to his father—a textile engineer who bred silkworms to demonstrate sericulture—ignited a lifelong passion for lepidoptery. Inspired by the film Born Free, Steve harboured a dream of exploring Africa’s rich biodiversity, a dream he realised in 1980 when he relocated to South Africa.
In 1986, Steve joined the Lepidopterists’ Society of Africa (LepSoc Africa), dedicating the next three decades to extensive fieldwork across South Africa, Zimbabwe, East Africa, and West Africa. Transitioning from traditional collection methods to digital photography, he meticulously documented numerous butterfly species in their natural habitats. His commitment and expertise led him to serve as President of LepSoc Africa for nearly a decade.






Prolific Author
Steve’s contributions to lepidoptery are substantial, with several acclaimed publications to his name:
Practical Guide to Butterflies and Moths in Southern Africa
Living Butterflies of Southern Africa
What’s That Butterfly?
Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa
The Pocket Guide to Butterflies in South Africa
Gardening for Butterflies
Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa 2nd Edition
Steve Woodhall's Journey: From Industrial Chemistry to Butterfly Expert
Steve Woodhall’s journey to becoming one of South Africa’s foremost butterfly experts is anything but conventional. With a background as an industrial chemist in the polymers field, Steve often refers to himself as a “bucket chemist,” having spent much of his career working in factories rather than laboratories. But throughout his life, one thing has remained constant: his deep passion for butterflies.
Born in the UK
School and Early Interests
Interest Expands
Move to South Africa
Joins the Lepidopterists' Society of Africa
Fieldwork and Research
Definitive Guide to South African Butterflies
Ongoing Fieldwork and Education
Publications and Tours
Born in the UK, Steve’s love for these delicate creatures started at a young age. He fondly recalls the first Painted Lady butterfly he saw in his backyard, an experience that ignited his lifelong fascination. As a child, he would spend hours chasing butterflies with his trusty butterfly net, often with his aunt’s dog in tow. From the Lake District to the Welsh beaches, his childhood was filled with adventures to find and observe butterflies, a hobby nurtured by his family and teachers.
Influenced by his father, a textile engineer with an interest in silkworms and moths, Steve was introduced to the world of lepidoptera early on. His schoolteacher started a butterfly club that further fueled his interest, and with the advent of wildlife documentaries by Sir David Attenborough, Steve’s fascination only grew. He also became a collector, with his best friend in Tanzania sending him packets of butterflies from Africa, fueling a dream to one day see these creatures in their natural habitat.
Although his academic path led him to a career in industrial chemistry, his passion for butterflies never waned. It was only a matter of time before Steve’s career took a turn that would bring him closer to his childhood dreams. After moving to South Africa in 1980, Steve’s butterfly collecting expanded as he traveled around the country, encountering some of the world’s most beautiful and diverse species.
In 1986, Steve joined the Lepidopterists’ Society of Africa, marking the beginning of his formal involvement in butterfly conservation and research. He quickly became a prominent figure in the community, drawing from his scientific background to inform his approach to butterfly study. His passion for education and conservation grew, and over time, he wrote the definitive guide to butterflies in South Africa, a monumental achievement that consolidated his status as a leading expert in the field.
Steve’s work has taken him to some of South Africa’s most biodiverse regions, from the Drakensberg grasslands to the forests of KwaZulu-Natal. His extensive fieldwork, combined with his scientific and photographic expertise, has allowed him to document and study numerous butterfly species, including several that were once only dreams to him as a child. Along the way, Steve has not only built an impressive personal collection of butterflies but has also contributed to the global understanding of South Africa’s unique butterfly fauna.
Today, Steve continues to share his passion and knowledge through educational talks, field tours, and his publications. His journey from an industrial chemist to a butterfly expert is a testament to the power of pursuing one’s passions and the unexpected paths that life can take when we follow our curiosities.