Speckled Wood butterfly

Pararge aegeria

family Satyridae (Browns)

Image of Speckled Wood butterfly

The Speckled Wood butterfly is dark brown in colour with pale yellow spots/markings.


My personal observations of the Speckled Wood butterfly

months seen in my garden: mainly September

garden plants that attract this species: Buddleia, Hyssop, Sedum

Butterfly sightings 2005:

Speckled Wood in my garden, 29 April
Speckled Wood, 26 June
Seen at Whitesheet Hill, 21 August
Seen at Matara garden, 4 September
Another seen at Matara garden, 4 September (side)
Speckled Wood seen in my garden, 15 and 20 September

Butterfly sightings 2004:

Speckled Wood, 31 May
Speckled Wood, 13 June
Speckled Wood, 1 July

I was admitted to hospital on 15 July for 4 months, so no more images from 2004.

Slide from 2003:

Speckled Wood Sapperton Valley, Gloucestershire. June 21.

Digital images of 2003:

thumbnail link Top view. On Sedum. September 5.

thumbnail link Side view. On Sedum. September 5.

thumbnail link On Buddleia weyeriana. September 5.

thumbnail link By the main path from the car park at Stourhead, Wiltshire. August 12.

thumbnail link Resting on a paving slab. September 28.

Images from past years:

On Hyssop. August 28 2002.

On Hyssop. August 28 2002.

On Hyssop. August 28 2002.

July 28 2001.

May 24 2000.

observations:

I have seen Speckled Wood butterflies in April, May, June, July, August and September. I expect to see one in my garden nearly every year at sometime in September.
I had a Speckled Wood butterfly feeding on Hyssop in August 2002. This was surprising: firstly, it was in the front garden well away from the hedgerow at the back which I would assume to be the route leading it here; secondly, Speckled Wood butterflies have a limited number of garden plants that they feed upon.

Reference Section

Size: 50mm (similar size to Small White - see list of butterflies by size)

First Generation flight period: March-June
Second Generation flight period: July-September
Third Generation flight period: October-November

Habitat: Woodland, Hedgerows - likes dappled shade
Larval Food Plants: Grasses

Family Group: Satyridae - see list of butterflies by family

This page last updated: 9 December, 2005