| ADULT |
Wingspan - 45 - 52mm (male); 48 - 56mm (female). All
wings are of a brown background covered in pale creamy-yellow patches.
The forewing has a black apical eyespot with a white pupil whereas the
hindwing has three or four similar spots ringed with cream. The
underside of the forewing is as above but the pale patches are more
extensive. The hindwings undersides are of a mottled brown with
creamy yellow patches with a darker border. There is an arc of brown
eyespots with yellowy pupils. The hindwings outer edge is gently
scalloped. |
| CHRYSALIS |
18mm. Pale green to yellowish brown and found
suspended from various grasses. |
| LARVA |
28mm. Pale green with green stripe along back that
is bordered by white. They have two rear white 'tails' that are
covered with greyish hairs. There are single lines along each
side. Found on a variety of grasses such as
cocks-foot. |
| EGG |
Yellowish green, globular and located on various shaded
grasses. Hatching time within 11 days. |
| BEHAVIOUR |
Males patrol their territory in between basking along
woodland rides and drinking honeydew from higher up within the trees. |
| HABITAT |
Hedgerows, woodland clearings and rides, gardens and
scrubland. |
| FLIGHT PERIOD |
March - October in successive broods. |
