Speckled Wood. Pararge aegeria (Linnaeus, 1758)
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
Wingspan: From 3.5 to 4.4 cm. Both wings are curvy, though the sinuous outlines are more prominent on the hindwing.
Routes where it can be observed
- Great Malaga Path (GR 249). Alternative Route 1. Alameda - Mollina - Humilladero - Fuente de Piedra
- Great Malaga Path (GR 249). Alternative Route 2. Coín - Puerto de los Pescadores - Alhaurín el Grande - Alhaurín de la Torre
- Great Malaga Path (GR 249). Alternative Route 3. Stage 1. Villanueva de Tapia - Cuevas de San Marcos
- Great Malaga Path (GR 249). Alternative Route 3. Stage 2. Cuevas de San Marcos - Cuevas Bajas
- Great Malaga Path (GR 249). Alternative Route 4. Stage 1. VIllanueva del Rosario - Antequera
- Great Malaga Path (GR 249). Alternative Route 4. Stage 2. Antequera - Valle de Abdalajís
- Great Malaga Path (GR 249). Alternative Route 4. Stage 3. Valle de Abdalajís - El Chorro (Álora)
- Great Malaga Path (GR 249). Alternative Route 5. Stage 1. Campillos - Teba
- Great Malaga Path (GR 249). Alternative Route 5. Stage 2. Teba - Cañete la Real
- Great Malaga Path (GR 249). Alternative Route 5. Stage 3. Cañete la Real - Arriate
- Great Malaga Path (GR 249). Alternative Route 5. Stage 4. Arriate - Ronda
- Great Malaga Path (GR 249). Stage 09. Periana - Riogordo
- Great Malaga Path (GR 249). Stage 01. Málaga - Rincón de la Victoria
- Great Malaga Path (GR 249). Stage 02. Rincón de la Victoria - Vélez-Málaga
- Great Malaga Path (GR 249). Stage 03. Vélez-Málaga - Torrox
- Great Malaga Path (GR 249). Stage 04. Torrox - Nerja
- Great Malaga Path (GR 249). Stage 05. Nerja - Frigiliana
- Great Malaga Path (GR 249). Stage 06. Frigiliana - Cómpeta
- Great Malaga Path (GR 249). Stage 07. Cómpeta - Canillas de Aceituno
- Great Malaga Path (GR 249). Stage 08. Canillas de Aceituno - Periana
- Great Malaga Path (GR 249). Stage 10. Riogordo - Alfarnate
- Great Malaga Path (GR 249). Stage 11. Alfarnate - Villanueva del Rosario
- Great Malaga Path (GR 249). Stage 12. Villanueva del Rosario - Archidona
- Great Malaga Path (GR 249). Stage 13. Archidona - Villanueva de Tapia
- Great Malaga Path (GR 249). Stage 14. Villanueva de Tapia - Villanueva de Algaidas
- Great Malaga Path (GR 249). Stage 15. Villanueva de Algaidas - Cuevas Bajas
- Great Malaga Path (GR 249). Stage 16. Cuevas Bajas - Alameda
- Great Malaga Path (GR 249). Stage 17. Alameda - Fuente de Piedra
- Great Malaga Path (GR 249). Stage 18. Fuente de Piedra - Campillos
- Great Malaga Path (GR 249). Stage 19. Campillos - Embalses del Guadalhorce
- Great Malaga Path (GR 249). Stage 20. Embalses del Guadalhorce - Estación de El Chorro (Álora)
- Great Malaga Path (GR 249). Stage 21. Estación de El Chorro (Álora) - Carratraca - Ardales
- Great Malaga Path (GR 249). Stage 22. Ardales - El Burgo
- Great Malaga Path (GR 249). Stage 23. El Burgo - Ronda
- Great Malaga Path (GR 249). Stage 24. Ronda - Estación de Benaoján
- Great Malaga Path (GR 249). Stage 25. Estación de Benaoján - Jimera de Líbar
- Great Malaga Path (GR 249). Stage 26. Jimera de Líbar - Benalauría
- Great Malaga Path (GR 249). Stage 27. Benalauría - Genalguacil
- Great Malaga Path (GR 249). Stage 28. Genalguacil - Casares
- Great Malaga Path (GR 249). Stage 29. Casares - Estepona
- Great Malaga Path (GR 249). Stage 30. Estepona - Marbella
- Great Malaga Path (GR 249). Stage 31. Marbella - Ojén
- Great Malaga Path (GR 249). Stage 32. Ojén - Mijas
- Great Malaga Path (GR 249). Stage 33. Mijas - Benalmádena
- Great Malaga Path (GR 249). Stage 34. Benalmádena - Alhaurín de la Torre
- Great Malaga Path (GR 249). Stage 35. Alhaurín de la Torre - Málaga
Code
Open wings: They are mostly brown with some scattered orange spots. On the forewing, there is a small eyespot with a white centre on the apex. Orange margins stretch from the apex to the proximity of the anal angle. On the hindwing, an orange spot spreads to the middle of the wing, above the series of eyespots.
Closed wings: The hindwing is covered in different shades of brown. There is a series of white spots outlined in vague brown which represent traces of eyespots.
Similar species
Large Wall Brown: The wings outlines are not sinuous. When it stretches the wings, there is a big eyespot on the forewing apex, a smaller one next to it, and one more close to the apex. The section of margin between the apex and the anal angle is brown. On the hindwing, there is no long orange dot over the series of eyespots. When its wings are closed, they are silver grey. There is a series of black eyespots with concentric rings.
Wall Brown: The wings outlines are not sinuous. All wings are more covered in orange than in brown colour. The section of forewing margin between the apex and the anal angle is brown. An orange spot, placed over the series of eyespots, goes across the entire hindwing. When its wings are closed, they are grey. There is a series of black eyespots with concentric rings.
Biology and Habitat
Several generations fly throughout the year at the same time. It is more common from March to July. Recently emerged butterflies can be seen on warm winter days.
This species lives in all kinds of habitats covered in plants, above all away from sunny zones, in shady areas, dense forests, such as eucalyptus woods, river banks with trees, streams and cattle tracks. Its caterpillars feed on diverse grasses, such as the genus Elymus, Brachypodium, Poa or Dactylis.
Distribution in the Great Path
This species can be seen all along the GMP, although, on the coast and in the north of the province, it is scarcer and limited to specific places.