Speckled wood
Males claim a single patch of sunlight on the woodland floor and spiral upwards to chase off any rival that enters it.
| Where | Woodland edges and rides, shady gardens, hedgerows |
|---|---|
| Size | 46 to 56 mm wingspan |
| When | April to September |
It is one of the few butterflies that prefers shade. Cream patches on dark wings match the dappled light on a forest floor.
It can spend the winter either as a caterpillar or as a pupa, which is why adults appear in overlapping broods from spring to autumn.
Traits
Habitat
Woodland
Colour
Brown, Yellow
Active
Day
To people
Harmless
Activity through the year
Often confused with
The meadow brown has one eyespot on the forewing and no cream patches.
Orange above, not cream on brown, and it basks on bare ground in full sun.
Questions
Is the Speckled wood dangerous to people?
The Speckled wood is harmless to people.
When can you see the Speckled wood?
The Speckled wood can be seen from April to September, by day.
Plate retouched from a museum specimen photo by Sundell, Pekka Robert, Finnish Museum of Natural History - Zoology Unit, CC BY 4.0, GBIF Licence
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Butterflies and moths›Brush-footed butterflies›Pararge
Last updated 2026-09-26. Every entry is checked against published sources.