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Speckled Wood, Pararge aegeria
Petley Wood, Photo: Mike Mullis
Recorded sightings in 2009: 2114
Recorded sightings in 2010: 916
Status in Rother: Once very rare, now common in Rother Woodlands wherever dappled light occurs. It seems this butterfly has been an early beneficiary of climate change.
Habitat: The Speckled Wood is very common in Rother and mainly breeds in woodland habitats, but it also uses lanes and tracks between tall hedgerows, parks, gardens, and scrub. It seems to prefer slightly damp areas where there is tall grass and some shade. Its main foodplant are grasses.
ID Tips: Medium sized. The speckled pattern on the wings exactly matches the dappled light beneath trees. The light squares can be cream or yellow.
First sighting in Rother (2009): 5 April
Recorded by: David Burrows
First sighting in Rother (2010): 6 April
Recorded by: Heather Martin
UK Distribution trend: 31%
Ten year UK Population trend (1995-2004): 66%
Long term UK population trend: 160%