Speckled Wood butterfly
Pararge aegeria
family Satyridae (Browns)
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:
Sapperton Valley, Gloucestershire.
June 21.
Digital images of 2003:
Top view. On Sedum. September
5.
Side view. On Sedum. September
5.
On Buddleia weyeriana.
September 5.
By the main path from the car park at Stourhead,
Wiltshire. August 12.
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.
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