Things With Wings
UK wildlife photography community at thingswithwings.uk — loading the latest sightings…
🦋
Speckled Wood
Pararge aegeria
3 photos
·1 photographer
·Common · 1 ptsDappled woodland butterfly; territorial in sunspots.
3 community photos of Speckled Wood on Things With Wings. Top-rated shots often use around 1/500ss shutter, 190mm.
Species Profile
Green List; common and widespread with no conservation concerns in the UK
- Lifespan
- 2–6 weeks as an adult butterfly; larvae develop over several months depending on temperature and generation
- Size & Weight
- Wingspan 32–38 mm
- Habitat
- Shaded woodland edges, clearings, glades, and dappled deciduous or mixed woodland with grassy understory.
- UK Distribution
- Found throughout England, Wales, and southern Scotland; absent from far northern Scotland and Ireland. Resident year-round in southern Britain; partial migrant in central and northern regions.
- Diet
- Adults feed on honeydew, rotting fruit, and occasionally tree sap; caterpillars feed on various grass species, particularly wood melick and false brome.
- Predators
- Small birds, spiders, and robber flies; parasitic wasps and flies target caterpillars and pupae.
- Mating Season
- April to October (multiple generations); peak activity May to September
- Breeding
- Two to three broods per year in the south; eggs laid singly on grass stems hatch in 7–10 days; caterpillars take 3–6 weeks to develop depending on temperature.
- Behaviour
- Males are highly territorial, perching on low vegetation or tree trunks and darting out to intercept passing insects. They favour sunny patches within woodland shade. Adults spend much time basking with wings partially open on the ground or low vegetation.
Sources and editorial status
The short identification summary comes from the Things With Wings species catalogue. The extended species profile is AI-assisted and has not been individually reviewed by a wildlife expert, so verify important identification or conservation details with the specialist sources below.
Profile generated 22 June 2026
Spotted an error? Tell us so it can be corrected.
Community Sightings by Month
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Camera Settings (top photos)
Shutter
1/500ss
ISO Range
400–3200
Aperture
f/f/11
Focal Length
190mm
