Speckled Wood

[Dave McCormick]

I just saw this little butterfly earlier today. First speckled wood of year. This one is a male. Got close as it was sunning istelf and my shadow did not touch it.

[grindle]

Don't think I've ever seen one of those before

[pipit]

Don't think I've ever seen one of those before
first time for me too...so thanks for posting
well captured :grin:

[Dave McCormick]

In the U.K. search along forest edges for it. Feeds on Bramble blossom in spring and is a nice sight to see. Caterpillars feed on grasses so it should not be hard to find, but they are green like the grass so they blend in well. female is lighter than this male above.

[grindle]

thanks Dave, I'll keep a lookout

[Dave McCormick]

I just learned to use my camera properly. Male Speckled wood defend their terratory very strongly and I saw two fighting for terratory for 10 mins before they broke up. There was three pairs of males fighting. I had to go home, pulled a muscle in my leg and no more pics today :(

Enjoy a resting Speckled Wood Male:

http://img360.imageshack.us/img360/478/speckledwoodrestinggd9.th.jpg (http://img360.imageshack.us/my.php?image=speckledwoodrestinggd9.jpg)

[Rich]

I get them in my secret garden. Not brightly coloured, but nice to see them.

[Dave McCormick]

Here is a better pic I took on 25th May 07. Looks nice cause of the color contrasts of the ground and so on. This one is a male

[Ginny42]

Nice picture Dave, just curious why the ground or rocks are blue?

Another question, how do you tell the difference between male and female butterfly species? Is it different for each type or is there one thing I can look for?

[Dave McCormick]

Blue? I don't actually know. When I feel better I will go and check it out.

[Dave McCormick]

Checked out the blue, and it was an old brick covered partly in blue paint. This is a good place to find these butterflies. Maybe one day soon, I will set a trap out here and see what comes to it.