Speckled Wood
Pararge aegeria
National Status
Found throughout most of England, Wales and parts of Scotland. Range expanding northwards. Population trend 10 years to 2016 +4%; since 1976 +84%
West Midlands Status
Widespread with range stable. Population trend 10 years to 2016 – increasing.
Speckled Wood was recorded in 1125 squares in 2026
10 Year Trend Analysis
Habitat
Semi-shaded areas such as lanes, hedgerows, woodland edges and rides.
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).
Refer to the Gardening for butterflies website by Joseph Shaffery for more details about caterpillar food plants and nectar sources.
Life Cycle
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Egg | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Larva | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pupa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Adult | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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.
First/Last Sightings 2026
| First Sighting | Recorded by | Last Sighting | Recorded by |
| 4 March | Steve Horton | 18 October | Dolding, Colin |
Distribution Map
Key
Total number of sightings per tetrad
Hotspots
Many woodlands throughout the West Midlands