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TranslateLasiommata megera
Lasiommata megera (Linnaeus 1767) common name Wall, wingspan 38mm to 47mm
Flight season April to October.
Family: Nymphalidae (sub family Satyrinae)
Up to three generations are achieved each year in Spain. The larvae feed on grasses in the genera: Festuca, Deschampsia, and Poa to name just a few. The caterpillar when fully grown is a very pale green with white dots, from the larger dots greyish bristles are evident on the back of the caterpillar.
Once a very common species in Europe and North Africa, now populations have been reclining over recent years.
Habitat: Found in a large variety of habitats including forest edges, clearings, waste ground, shrubbery areas in ravines, river valleys and also found in mountain habitats up to 3000m.
This species gets the common name “wall” referring to its resting behaviour, with wings two thirds open on a bare surface to generate the heat from a walls surface. Obviously not just walls but any heat soaked bare surface including; open ground, rocks and stones. This open basking behaviour benefits the butterfly, with the heat coming from below as well as from above. Overheating must be avoided, so the butterfly will retreat to a shady spot to cool down.
In the images below you will see images of both sexes, the male has a thicker black angled marking on the upper side of the forewing.
Read MoreFlight season April to October.
Family: Nymphalidae (sub family Satyrinae)
Up to three generations are achieved each year in Spain. The larvae feed on grasses in the genera: Festuca, Deschampsia, and Poa to name just a few. The caterpillar when fully grown is a very pale green with white dots, from the larger dots greyish bristles are evident on the back of the caterpillar.
Once a very common species in Europe and North Africa, now populations have been reclining over recent years.
Habitat: Found in a large variety of habitats including forest edges, clearings, waste ground, shrubbery areas in ravines, river valleys and also found in mountain habitats up to 3000m.
This species gets the common name “wall” referring to its resting behaviour, with wings two thirds open on a bare surface to generate the heat from a walls surface. Obviously not just walls but any heat soaked bare surface including; open ground, rocks and stones. This open basking behaviour benefits the butterfly, with the heat coming from below as well as from above. Overheating must be avoided, so the butterfly will retreat to a shady spot to cool down.
In the images below you will see images of both sexes, the male has a thicker black angled marking on the upper side of the forewing.
