E2BN Gallery

This butterfly is brown with pale yellow or cream spots and darker upperwing eyespots. Females have brighter and more distinct markings than males. The wingspan of both males and females is 4–4.5 cm, although males tend to be slightly smaller than females. Males are highly territorial and will defend their territory against intruding males. The caterpillar is green with a short, forked tail and feeds on various species of grass, especially couch grass.[3] The chrysalis (pupa) is green or dark brown. The species is unique in its ability to overwinter in two totally separated developmental stages, as pupae or as half-grown larvae. Hence it has several adult flights per year. Picture taken at Hinxworth on 30th July 2011