From aerial battles, to faking their own death, these butterflies are tough
Speckled Woods spend their time flitting lazily about tree canopies looking for aphid honeydew and sap, or basking in sunbeams. But they’re never too far from the edge of conflict, and you’ll often see them chasing off rivals in spiralling flights.
As adults, males are especially territorial and will chase intruders from sunny perches.
The females, meanwhile, have their own way of making their feelings known. If she’s not interested, she’ll simply play dead until he leaves. And who can blame her?
As caterpillars, they mostly eat grasses. Strangely, female caterpillars growing in lower temperatures tend to shed their skin an extra time compared to the males.
They can be found across the majority of the UK where there are trees or vegetation tall enough to create shade alongside sunshine. In particular, they like woodland edges, rides, gardens, hedgerows, and parks.
Vibes
Each butterfly is scored out of 100 across a set of traits, from how bold and visible it is to how far it travels or how particular it is about where it lives. These scores compare each species with the other butterflies in Britain, helping you see their differences at a glance. Here’s what makes the Speckled Wood special.
Bright colours, bold patterns, and a love of the spotlight. Some butterflies just can’t help showing off.
Fast, or throwing some seriously impressive moves, these butterflies are in a flutter.
Always on guard, ready to hide or defend - these butterflies have self-preservation down to an art.
It’s ok to be a little… well, weird. These butterflies have been certified with the freak factor.
Like Goldilocks, everything has to be just right for these perfectionists.
Hard to spot and even harder to forget, these butterflies are a true one of a kind.
Bold, curious, and ready to explore, these brave butterflies live for the thrill and aren’t afraid to travel.
Weather-resistant, battle-hardened, and built to survive, these butterflies know how to take it on the wing.
Female caterpillars living in lower temperatures tend to moult an extra time compared to males.
Test your knowledge
How might a female Speckled Wood avoid an unwanted male?Female Speckled Woods can avoid persistent males by pretending to be dead until they go away.
