(Linnaeus, 1758)
Large Wall Brown
Description:
The Large Wall Brown occurs in quite different habitats. It is mainly found in warm, dry places near rocks, and poor grassland, or on rough vegetation near woodland edges. However, it can also occur on damp grassland and rough vegetation near wood margins. The butterflies need a lot of nectar, often visiting purple or pink flowers of thistles and other nectar-rich plants.
The female lays her eggs on the blades of grasses that include Holcus spp., bents (Agrostis spp.), and small-reeds (Calamagrostis spp.). The caterpillars hibernate when half-grown in a grass tussock, and pupate later deep down in the vegetation.
The Large Wall Brown has one brood a year in the north of its distribution range, and two a year in the south.
Habitat:
Mixed woodland
Mesophile grasslands
Deciduous forests
Similar species:
Lasiommata megera
Lasiommata paramegaera
Lasiommata petropolitana