Regional Species


Wall Brown
Lasiommata megera

Photograph by Ilija Vukomanovic

Regional Species

This is still a reasonably common butterfly in North Wales although it is largely absent from the uplands. Any unimproved piece of land with wild flowers and tall grasses may be suitable provided there are also areas of bare soil or rock. Indeed, it is the habit of basking on rocks that gave rise to the vernacular name, as the rocks chosen often form part of a stone wall. The butterfly is common in sand dunes, where it basks on the bare sand, and in rough areas with boulders or scree. The summits of rocky hills are often especially favoured.

A double-brooded species which can be seen flying in May and early June and then again from the end of July, throughout August and into early September. The eggs are laid singly on various species of grass such as Cock’s-foot (Dactylis glomerata), Yorkshire Fog (Holcus lanatus) and Wavy Hair-grass (Deschampsia flexuosa). The larvae hide by day, emerging at night to feed on the grass leaves. The species overwinters in the larval stage.

In flight this butterfly might be mistaken for a fritillary and when settled it could be confused with a Grayling but in both cases the resemblance is superficial.