Family SATYRIDAE 
Genus PARARGE, Hiibner, 1818 
THE SPECKLED WOOD 
Pararge aegeria (Linn., 1758). 
(Plate IV, facing page 45) 
Haunts and Distribution. During recent years the Speckled 
Wood has been absent from many localities where it formerly 
occurred. Its favourite haunts are woodland paths, shady 
lanes and the outskirts of woods. It shuns the bright sun¬ 
shine and frequents the more shaded and damper places, also 
it may be seen on the* wing during dull unsettled weather. 
Its flight is restless, fluttering and undulating. 
In England and Wales it is widely distributed and abundant 
in the southern and western counties, becoming less numerous 
in the eastern and northern districts. In Scotland it is 
uncommon in the south and very rare in the north. It is 
abundant throughout the whole of the woodlands in Ireland. 
In the Isle of Man it is unknown. The British form of this 
butterfly ( P . aegerides) occurs abroad over central and 
northern Europe, in northern Asia, and Armenia. The true 
P . aegeria , which is very rare in this country, occurs in 
south-western Europe and northern Africa. 
Time of Appearance. The Speckled Wood is one of the 
earliest butterflies to emerge from the pupa. It appears in 
the spring, as early as April, and from that time it occurs 
irregularly on the wing until October. As a rule there are 
two broods in a year, the first appearing from April to June, 
the second brood in July and August; but during favourable 
seasons with very fine, warm and late summer weather, there 
are at least three successive broods in the year. 
Hibernation. This species passes the winter both in the 
larval and pupal stages, but in the larval state hibernation 
is only partial as it feeds during the winter whenever the 
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