Satyrids (Browns)
This family contains mainly brown and muted orange coloured butterflies with white-pupiled eye-spots, generally prominent at the tips of the forewings. The exception is the Marbled White which superficially appears to be closer related to the Pierid family. All caterpillars feed on grasses or sedges, are cryptically camouflaged and have tapering projections at head and tail. Chrysalises can be suspended or formed amongst moss and stones.
Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria)
Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria)

Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria)
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Satyrinae
Tribe: Elymniini
Genus: Pararge
Species: aegeria
Subspecies: tircis, oblita, insula

Key ID Features:
White or cream spots on brown upper forewings.
Scalloped hindwings with row of three or four white pupiled eye-spots on the upperside.
Often rests on vegetation with wings open and defends territory.

Seen in UK: April-October

The Speckled Wood is a common butterfly and familiar to many observers, especially in woodland where, as its name suggests, it is most often found. The appearance of this butterfly changes from north to south, forming a "cline", where individuals in the north are dark brown with white spots, with those in more southerly locations being dark brown with orange spots. This has given rise to a number of subspecies. In addition to the named subspecies, Thompson (1952) identified a race that formed an altitudinal cline in Snowdonia, south-west of the river Conway, giving it the name drumensis. The single-brooded adults flew in June at high altitude above the tree line, and were large with pale prominent markings.

In England this butterfly is found south of a line between Westmorland in the west and South-east Yorkshire in the east, with a few scattered colonies further north. It is also found in the west and north of Scotland, but is absent from the south, the Outer Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland. It is widespread in both Wales and Ireland, but is absent from exposed high ground. This species is expanding its range and it is anticipated that it will eventually fill the gaps in its distribution.

Text (c) UK Butterflies, used with permission
For more information click here

Photographer: Tim Tapley

Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria)

Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria)
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Satyrinae
Tribe: Elymniini
Genus: Pararge
Species: aegeria
Subspecies: tircis, oblita, insula

Key ID Features:
White or cream spots on brown upper forewings.
Scalloped hindwings with row of three or four white pupiled eye-spots on the upperside.
Often rests on vegetation with wings open and defends territory.

Seen in UK: April-October

The Speckled Wood is a common butterfly and familiar to many observers, especially in woodland where, as its name suggests, it is most often found. The appearance of this butterfly changes from north to south, forming a "cline", where individuals in the north are dark brown with white spots, with those in more southerly locations being dark brown with orange spots. This has given rise to a number of subspecies. In addition to the named subspecies, Thompson (1952) identified a race that formed an altitudinal cline in Snowdonia, south-west of the river Conway, giving it the name drumensis. The single-brooded adults flew in June at high altitude above the tree line, and were large with pale prominent markings.

In England this butterfly is found south of a line between Westmorland in the west and South-east Yorkshire in the east, with a few scattered colonies further north. It is also found in the west and north of Scotland, but is absent from the south, the Outer Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland. It is widespread in both Wales and Ireland, but is absent from exposed high ground. This species is expanding its range and it is anticipated that it will eventually fill the gaps in its distribution.

Text (c) UK Butterflies, used with permission
For more information click here

Photographer: Tim Tapley