The wall brown’s ideal habitat includes sparsely wooded areas or shrubby areas in ravines and river valleys. There has been a significant decline in numbers of sightings of the wall brown in Southern England since the mid 70’s. This decline has been attributed to environmental changes.
Blackleg tortoiseshells are found throughout Europe, Northern Africa, and Western Asia. During the imago stage, the butterfly will winter in dark and dry areas; tree hollows or unoccupied buildings are preferred. It will emerge in late February or early March looking for food sources high in sugars and for mating purposes. Imago is a biological term defining the final stage of an insect’s metamorphosis into adulthood.
The Queen of Spain is a common butterfly found throughout Europe and temperate Asia. Male and female are similar in appearance, although the female is slightly larger and features a shorter abdomen. Females tend to be sedentary, males will pursue any butterfly passing through its territory. Sources for nectar include thistles, thyme, cow parsley, and dandelion.
The European butterflies depicted are the wall brown (Lasiommata megera), the blackleg tortoiseshell (Nymphalis polychloros), and the Queen of Spain (Issoria lathonia).
