speckled wood butterfly

Messages
1,907
Name
paul rogers
Edit My Images
Yes
The speckled wood butterfly (Pararge aegeria) is a butterfly found in and on the borders of woodland areas throughout much of the Palearctic ecozone.
The species is subdivided into multiple subspecies, including Pararge aegeria aegeria, Pararge aegeria tricis, Pararge aegeria oblita, and Pararge aegeria insula.
The coloration of this butterfly varies between subspecies. The existence of these subspecies is due to variation in morphology down a gradient corresponding to a geographic cline.
The background of the wings ranges from brown to orange, and the spots are either pale yellow, white, cream or a tawny orange. The speckled wood feeds on a variety of grass species.
The males of this species exhibit two types of mate locating behaviors: territorial defense and patrolling.
The proportion of males exhibiting these two strategies changes based on ecological conditions.
The monandrous female must choose which type of male can help her reproduce successfully. Her decision is heavily influenced by environmental conditions.


Spotted.jpg
 
Nicely caught , looking good with the lighting on the leave
 
Back
Top