Habitat: Moist grasslands, and damp woodland glades and rides.
Distribution: Found throughout Ireland and much of Britain though absent from northern Scotland and more common in Ireland, lowland Wales and southern lowland England.
Description: EGG: Domed; yellowish with a glossy appearance.
LARVA: Up to 21mm long, stout, and tapered towards rear; beige, with short dark hairs, a dark dorsal stripe, and a lateral white band with irregular darker markings; head red-brown.
PUPA: Very squat, compact and rounded; beige with darker markings.
WINGSPAN: 35-42mm
Natural History: This insect lives in well defined colonies which are very variable in size. Females lay their eggs fairly indiscriminately, either whilst perching or flying. Eggs hatch after two weeks, and the caterpillar can survive without food for a short time whilst searching for a suitable foodplant. The larva lives for about ten months, hibernating during winter, and pupating by early summer. The pupa is formed within a small cocoon at the base of a grass clump. There is one generation per year.
