Macro view of the underside of the Speckled Wood Butterfly (Pararge aegeria).
The speckled wood is a common woodland butterfly . It is a brown butterfly with yellowish-orange spots on the wings and numerous eye-spots . The undersides of the wings are marbled, and are light and dark brown in colour. The two sexes are similar in appearance . The caterpillar is yellowish-green with a dark-green stripe along the back and lines along the sides . The Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) is a butterfly found in and on the borders of woodland areas throughout much of the Palearctic ecozone. The species is subdivided into multiple subspecies, including Pararge aegeria aegeria, Pararge aegeria tricis, Pararge aegeria oblita, and Pararge aegeria insula. The coloration of this butterfly varies between subspecies. The background of the wings ranges from brown to orange, and the spots are either pale yellow, white, cream or a tawny orange. The Speckled Wood feeds on a variety of grass species. The males of this species exhibit two types of mate locating behaviors: territorial defense and patrolling. The proportion of males exhibiting these two strategies changes based on ecological conditions. The monandrous female must choose which type of male can help her reproduce successfully. Her decision is heavily influenced by environmental conditions.
Size: 3572px × 2997px
Location: The Pines Garden, Beach Road, St. Margaret’s Bay, Kent.
Photo credit: © John Gaffen 2 / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: aegeria, british, butterfly, camoflage, eye-spots, insect, kent, macro, pararge, speckled, uk, wood
