• National Status: Found throughout most of England, Wales and parts of Scotland. Range expanding northwards. Population trend 10 years +4%; since 1976 +84%
• West Midlands Status: Widespread with range stable. Population trend 10 years – increasing.

• Hotspots: Many woodlands throughout the West Midlands 

• Habitat: Semi-shaded areas such as lanes, hedgerows, woodland edges and rides.

• Flight Period: The Speckled Wood can pass the winter not only as a pupa, but also as a larva, unique for a UK butterfly. This gives rise to two distinct spring flight periods: one in March/April and the other May/June. Both of these may produce one or two later broods leading to more or less continuous sightings from March through to October or even November.

• Wingspan Male 46–52 mm, female 52–62 mm.

Caterpillar Food Plant – The main foodplants are Cock’s-foot (Dactylis glomerata), Common Couch (Elytrigia repens), False Brome (Brachypodium sylvaticum) and Yorkshire-fog (Holcus lanatus).

Life Cycle:

• The Charts show the distribution over the last 5 years complete coverage 2020 to 2025
• The Population Trend from Transect Records 2020 to 2025
• Phenology from Transect Records

Members Photographs