.
Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria)
wingspan: 3.8 - 4.4 cm;
male/ : dark brown with
female cream spots
and several eye
spots
larval
foodplant: grasses
This species is reputed to like dappled shade and to defend a patch of sunlight against other males.
I have certainly noticed more of these butterflies appearing as the trees grow taller, They also seem to be flying for more of the year then even a couple of years ago. They are certainly the latest flying butterfly most years.
This particular individual has a favourite patch of dead grass that it returns to again and again.
First sighting - May 2005
Highest yearly counts Frequency
2005(May) - 2
2006(June) - 10 increasing
2007 (Sept) - 20 increasing
2008(Aug) - 20 increasing
2009(Sept.) - 50+ increasing
2010(July) - 50+ increasing
2009 Sightings:
April w/e | | | | May w/e | | | | |
| 4th | 11th | 18th | 25th | 2nd | 9th | 16th | 23rd | 30th |
| | 1 | 1 | 3 | 10+ | 10+ | 10+ | 5 | 2 |
| | | | | | | | | |
June w/e | | | | July. | | | | Aug w/e | | | | | Sept. w/e | | | |
| 6th | 13th | 20th | 27th | 4th | 11th | 18th | 25th | 1st | 8th | 15th | 22nd | 29th | 5th | 12th | 19th | 26th |
| 10+ | !0+ | 10+ | 10+ | 5 | 3 | | 4 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 50+ | 50+ | 20+ | 10 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
2010 Sightings
April w/e | May w/e | | | | | June w/e | | | | July w/e | | | | | |
| 25th | 1st | 8th | 15th | 22nd | 29th | 5th | 12th | 19th | 26th | 3rd | 10th | 17th | 24th | 31st | |
| 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 20+ | 20+ | 50+ | 50+ | 25+ | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Aug w/e | | | | Sept w/e | | | | Oct w/e | | |
| 7th | 14th | 21st | 28th | 4th | 11th | 18th | 25th | 2dn | 9th | 16th |
| 15 | 20 | 15 | 12 | 6 | 20 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 3 |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
2011 sightings:
April w/e | | | | May w/e | | | | June | | | | | | | |
| 9th | 16th | 23rd | 30th | 7th | 14th | 21st | 28th | 4th | | | | | | | |
| 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 10+ | 10+ | 4 | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |