Speckled Wood Butterfly
Pararge aegeria
Members adopting this butterfly: Barry, Steven
Speckled Wood Butterfly
This butterfly has chocolate brown and cream wings. The colours of this butterfly make it easy to identify. Female Speckled Woods are larger than male and also have larger cream patches. This is the only butterfly that hibernates as a caterpillar and chrysalis. This is why the first and second generation of these butterflies overlap.
When you might see them
You may see Speckled Wood butterflies anytime between April and October.
Food
Speckled Wood butterflies drink honeydew. However, in spring and late summer they drink nectar from other flowers, as there is low supply of honeydew at this time. They also like bramble.
Where – Habitat
You may find this butterfly along woodland edges and hedges where there are patches of sunshine and shades. They spend a lot of time high in the tree canopy and so may not be so easily noticed.
Speckled Wood Eggs
The egg is almost spherical and pale.
When
In spring and autumn the eggs are laid on plants where there is sunlight. In summer they are laid on plants in the woodlands. Most eggs are laid singly on a wide variety of grasses including False Brome, Cock’s-foot and Yorkshire-fog. The egg hatches in seven to ten days.
Speckled Wood Caterpillar
This caterpillar can grow 28mm. It has a dark green line in the central part of its back and thin yellow lines on each side.
When
Speckled Wood caterpillars can be found at irregular intervals throughout the year.
Food
The caterpillars enjoy feeding on grass.
Where
After the egg hatches the caterpillar stays on the same grass blade resting and taking small bites from it.
Speckled Wood Chrysalis
A Speckled Woods chrysalis can vary in colour from pale green to dark olive.
When
Most Speckled Wood chrysalises are formed in May to July and the butterfly emerges in August. Other Speckled Wood chrysalises are formed in September and the butterfly emerges next April.
Where
A Speckled Wood chrysalis is usually formed in dense vegetation. You will find them attached to a grass stem.
Books used to find information
Britain’s Butterflies
A field guide to the butterflies of Britain and Ireland.
Written by David Newland, Robert Still, David Tomlinson and Andy Swash
The Butterflies of Britain and Ireland
Written by Jeremy Thomas and Richard Lewington
Guide to the butterflies of Britain
Written by John Bebbington
Usborne Spotter’s Guides – Butterflies
Written by George E. Hyde
BBC Gardeners World Magazine
Issue July 2011
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