Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) | Species | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Male ssp. tircis. Taken at Cors y Llyn, Powys, on May 4th 2023. (1/1000th sec at f11. © David Hastings)  Female ssp. tircis. Taken at Pewsey Downs, Wilts, on August 22nd 2022. (1/800th sec at f11. © David Hastings)  Underside ssp. tircis. Taken at Aston Rowant NNR, Oxon., on August 28th 2019. (1/250th sec at f11. © David Hastings)  Mating pair ssp. tircis. Taken at Otmoor, Oxon., on April 18th 2019. (1/250th sec at f13. © David Hastings)  Male ssp. insula. Taken on St Mary's, Isles of Scilly, on April 20th 2011. (1/125th sec at f14. © David Hastings)  Male ssp. aegeria. Taken at Huerta Grande, Spain, on September 11th 2010. (1/50th sec at f13. © David Hastings) DescriptionFamily: Satyrinae Wing span: 40-45 mm The Speckled Wood is a common butterfly. Its appearance changes from north to south, and the following subspecies are known: tircis is found in most of England, Wales, Ireland and central Europe. oblita is found in Scotland. insula is found on the Isles of Scilly. aegeria is found in southern and south-western Europe, and colonised Madeira in 1976. The further south the population, the more orange is found on the wings. It is found throughout the British Isles except the south and extreme north of Scotland. It is widespread in western and central Europe, Turkey, N. Africa and Madeira. Its habitat is deciduous, coniferous and mixed woodland, but it can be found anywhere there is sufficient scrub to provide the dappled shade that it favours. This includes gardens and hedgerows. There are three broods in Britain: the end of April/beginning of May, the end of July, and the end of August into September. Both larvae and pupae over-winter, which makes the Speckled Wood unique among British butterflies. The main larval foodplants are Cock's-foot, Common Couch, False Brome and Yorkshire-fog. Adults feed primarily on honeydew or sap. Males often bask on sunlit leaves or the woodland floor. They are very territorial. Least Concern Sightings
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