Wall Brown. Lasiommata megera (Linnaeus, 1767)
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
Wingspan: From 3.5 to 5 cm.
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: The forewings are orange with brown margins. On male butterflies inner part of the wings, there is a bold orange line which goes across the wing towards the apex (androconia), which does not exist in the case of female butterflies. There is a black eyespot in the centre. On the hindwings margins, a series of black eyespots with white centre and orange outline can be seen. There is a brown line above them, and, over it, a long orange spot which goes across the entire hindwing.
Closed wings: They are grey sprinkled with brown colour. On the forewing, there is one very small eyespot, which is occasionally missing, above the ocellus on the apex. The hindwing has a series of eyespots in similar size with concentric rings.
Similar species
Large Wall Brown: 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. Male butterflies' andocronia is thinner. 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 eyespots, which are different in size, and have concentric rings.
Speckled Wood: It has sinuous wings margins. When it stretches the wings, there is more brown colour on them, so orange parts are reduced to spots. There is only one eyespot at the apex and it is smaller. On the hindwing, we can see an orange spot above a series of eyespots that goes across the middle of the wing up to the outer margin. When its wings are closed, there are various differences. Firstly, they are completely brown, without eyespots on the hindwing, which are reduced to small white spots.
Biology and Habitat
This species flies throughout the year, above all from March to July. There are three generations which are active at the same time, and their emergence period is long. Therefore, it is possible to spot recently emerged butterflies on nice winter days.
They are present in all types of habitats covered in plants, from lower areas and steep slopes to open woodland, scattered thickets and high mountains. They often exhibit hilltopping. Their caterpillars feed on varied grasses, such as the genera Aegilops, Stipa, Poa and Brachypodium.
Distribution in the Great Path
This one is probably the most common butterfly from the Nymphalidae family in the province. It can be found at all stages of the path, but it is rarer the case of coastal areas and in the north of the province, where it can be found at limited number of places.