speckled wood butterfly

Speckled wood butterflies are really interesting colours and patterns on their wings and are found across the UK and Ireland. In shady woodlands and grassy clearings, we also found one in the woods.

What they eat

The speckled wood butterfly caterpillars get different grasses like couch grass and Yorkshire fog. The caterpillars also eat things like false brome. The adult butterflies sometimes get nectar from flowers and get juice from over ripe fruit. They also feed on honeydew in the tree tops.

Life cycle

Firstly the butterfly starts as a tiny green egg laid on grass. Then they hatch into a green caterpillar that eats grass. Then they form a chrysalis with a hard shell and it hangs from the grass. They are also really good at winter survival. The butterflies can survive winter in two different ways they can survive as a caterpillar hidden in grass, or a chrysalis.

Fun facts

They live in gardens!

Males fight over the sunny places.

Sources: The wildlife trust, and buglife