Best time to see: Jul to early Aug
Key facts
A dark brown butterfly of damp, open woods
Habitat: damp, open spots where native grasses grow tall, such as woodland glades and rides and overgrown hedgerows
Common across much of England and Wales, excluding the more urban areas; common across Essex but not inside the M25 ring
Recognition
Dark brown upperwings with a white fringe; underwings have a string of conspicuous eyes with white centres
Often seen feeding on brambles, usually with wings closed; weak, fluttering flight
Unlike most butterflies, flies in overcast weather and even during light showers
Lifecycle
Eggs are dropped to ground among tall grasses in damp places, in late summer
Pale brown caterpillars feed on tall grasses at night, hibernating when quite small
Chrysalis forms at the base of a clump of grasses in June, adults emerging in July/August
© Ken Wooldridge
© Gordon Chalk