| ADULT |
Wingspan - 40 - 50mm (male); 42 - 60mm (female). The
upperwings are sooty brown with the male having a nice orange patch with
the dark apical eyespot only containing one white spot. Females
are similar in colour but the orange patch is more extensive and the
dark eyespot contains two white pupils as on Fig 1 and Fig 2. Both
species may have, especially on the hindwing, a paler brown post discal
band. The undersides of the hindwings in both sexes are tri-coloured
going from brown, pale creamy-brown and again to brown. The
forewing undersides are also tri-coloured going from orange in the basal
half, to a central band of pale orange then to pale brown. The
conspicuoius eyespot is as above. The outer edge of the hindwing
is scalloped, particularly so in the female. |
| CHRYSALIS |
16mm. Lime green with variable brown
markings. |
| LARVA |
25mm. Pale green above with white stripe along each
side, darker green below. |
| EGG |
Pale yellow with orange blotches, ribbed and
rounded. Located on various grasses or within loose
vegetation. Hatching time within 20 days. |
| BEHAVIOUR |
A very approachable species with a fluttery flight
that oozes laziness. Can fly at most times of the day even if it
is overcast but on really dull days tend to bask with wings
closed. Likes to feed on knapweed, scabious or bramble. |
| HABITAT |
Ubiquitous on grassy areas especially meadows and fields. |
| FLIGHT PERIOD |
June - late September |
