Large Wall Brown (Lasiommata maera)

Download image

Here is a detailed overview of the Large Wall Brown (Lasiommata maera), a sun-loving butterfly often seen basking on rocks or dry paths in Europe:

🦋 **Large Wall Brown (Lasiommata maera)**

🔹 Taxonomy

Family: Nymphalidae (Brush-footed butterflies)
Subfamily: Satyrinae (Browns)
Genus: Lasiommata
Species: maera
Authority: (Linnaeus, 1758)

🔹 Identification

Wingspan: 45–55 mm
Coloration:
- Upperside: Dark brown with orange patches and prominent black eyespots on forewings and hindwings
  - Forewing: One large black eyespot with white pupil
  - Hindwing: Several smaller eyespots
- Underside:
  - Forewings similar to upper side but duller
  - Hindwings are mottled grey and brown, cryptic, with subtle eyespots—perfect for camouflage on rocks or dry soil
Sexual dimorphism:
- Males are slightly darker with more intense color contrast
- Females are paler and slightly larger

🔹 Distribution

Range: Widely distributed across:
- Southern and Central Europe
- North Africa
- Parts of Western and Central Asia
Altitudinal range: From lowland grasslands to alpine slopes (up to ~2,500 m)

🔹 Habitat

Favors dry, rocky, sunny habitats, including:
- Stone walls, dry grasslands
- Scree slopes, abandoned quarries
- Mountain paths, woodland clearings, open scrub
Often seen basking on bare rock, dry paths, or walls, hence the name “Wall Brown”

🔹 Behavior

Basking: Frequently seen resting with wings open in the sun
Flight: Low and fluttery, often interrupted by short glides
Territorial: Males defend sunlit perches and chase intruders
Often rests with wings half open or closed when camouflaging on rocky surfaces

🔹 Life Cycle

🥚 Eggs

Laid singly on or near grasses, especially on dry, sparse vegetation

🐛 Larvae

Caterpillars are greenish with a faint dorsal stripe and tapering at each end
Feed on a variety of grasses, especially:
- Festuca (fescues)
- Brachypodium
- Poa (bluegrasses)

🐛 Pupae

Pupate close to the ground, often among rocks or dry vegetation

🦋 Adults

Two generations (bivoltine) in southern areas: May–June and August
Single generation (univoltine) at higher altitudes or cooler regions: June–August

🔹 Similar Species

Species	Key Difference
Lasiommata megera (Wall Brown)	Smaller, more orange, more fragmented eyespots; prefers lower altitudes and man-made walls
Lasiommata petropolitana (Northern Wall Brown)	More restricted to boreal regions
Pararge aegeria (Speckled Wood)	More woodland-dwelling, less orange, smaller eyespots

🔹 Conservation Status

Not globally threatened, but:
- Local declines in areas with intensive agriculture, urbanization, or habitat overgrowth
- Benefits from grazing and disturbance that prevent scrub encroachment
Listed as Least Concern (LC) in Europe

🔹 Ecological Role

Pollinator of low-growing flowers
Prey for birds, spiders, and predatory insects
Indicator of dry grassland and rocky slope biodiversity

🔹 Fun Facts

Despite the name, it’s less tied to human walls than Lasiommata megera
Its rock-like hindwing pattern allows it to vanish when wings are closed on gravel or stones
One of the few Satyrinae frequently seen in open sunlight

📸 Observation Tips

Look for them basking on dry paths, rocks, or walls from late spring to early autumn
Approach slowly—they are alert but often return to the same perch
Often found along hiking trails in rocky, mountainous regions