Large Wall Brown

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This medium-sized butterfly belongs to the family Nymphalidae. It has a wide distribution extending from Europe and North Africa, across the Middle East upto the Himalayas.

In Palestine, the distribution has been commonly recorded in open woodlands and meadows. This species is mostly found in open forested areas with stones and rocky growths. Other preferred habitats are the edges of forests and unmanaged open areas within forests.

As the common name suggests, this butterfly has brown coloured wings. On the upper side of the forewings, near the upper margin or apex there is a large eyespot with a row of reddish patches below it. On the upper side of the hindwings, near the lower margin is another row of smaller sized eyespots. Each eyespot is a black coloured circular spot with a small white centre and surrounded by a reddish orange ring. The lower side of the forewings have orange coloured patches. The lower side of the hindwings are grey in colour with two long brown coloured wavy stripes in the centre and row of eyespots along the margin. The eyespots on the underside of the hindwings are black with small white centre and surrounded by yellowish orange ring. The females are larger in size than the males.

This butterfly species flies from late June until mid July. The females lay eggs singly on broad-leaved grasses and the larvae feed on plants of different grasses (Poaceae).

Sightings: It has a wide distribution extending from Europe and North Africa, across the Middle East upto the Himalayas. This species is mostly found in open forested areas with stones and rocky growths. Other preferred habitats are the edges of forests and unmanaged open areas within forests.

Flight: Slow flight

Conservation Status: Least Concern