Natural Beauty - Speckled Wood butterfly (Pararge aegeria)

Natural Beauty - Speckled Wood butterfly (Pararge aegeria), originally uploaded by Beto Frota.

Speckled Wood, Pararge aegeria.


Description:
The Speckled Wood is a common species found in woodland and scrub where dappled sunlight and areas of lush grass grow in damper areas. The male will often be seen perched with wings wide open in areas of sunlight chasing intruders and females which wander by. Both male and female butterflies feed on honeydew in tree tops only occsionally being seen feeding on flowers.

A butterfly is an insect of the order Lepidoptera. Like all Lepidoptera, butterflies are notable for their unusual life cycle with a larval caterpillar stage, an inactive pupal stage, and a spectacular metamorphosis into a familiar and colourful winged adult form. Most species are day-flying so they regularly attract attention. The diverse patterns formed by their brightly coloured wings and their erratic yet graceful flight have made butterfly watching a hobby.


Habitat:
The Speckled Wood breeds in woodland habitats lanes and tracks between tall hedgerows parks, gardens, and scrub. It seems to prefer slightly damp areas where there is tall grass and some dappled shade.

Where to see the Speckled Wood in UK
The Speckled Wood has spread since the 1920s following a contraction in its range during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It continued to spread during the 1980's and 90's recolonizing many areas in eastern and northern England and Scotland where it continues to spread northwards as a response to global warming.


Butterflies comprise the true butterflies (superfamily Papilionoidea), the skippers (superfamily Hesperioidea) and the moth-butterflies (superfamily Hedyloidea). Butterflies exhibit polymorphism, mimicry and aposematism. Some migrate over long distances. Some butterflies have evolved symbiotic and parasitic relationships with social insects such as ants. Butterflies are important economically as agents of pollination. In addition, a few species are pests, because they can damage domestic crops and trees in their larval stage.

Culturally, butterflies are a popular motif in the visual and literary arts.