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 Woodland brown (Lopinga achine)

 

Who has sharp eyes and is lucky with butterflies may meet one of our most beautiful Lopinga butterflies at a forest edge or in a wooded meadow – the Woodland brown. The flight time of this butterfly species has started. Because of the striking pattern on the undersides of the wings it is easily identified and can be distinguished from other Lopinga species. On the light brown underside of the woodland brown’s fore and hind wings there is a line of oval eye patches surrounded by yellow rings. A bright band that is more whitish and broader on the hind wings than the forewings separates the eye patches from the rear part of the wings. On the brown upper surface of the butterfly’s wings dark ring-shaped patches surrounded by a yellow circle can be seen as well.

 

 

A sharp eye is needed to see this butterfly because the woodland brown prefers to be active in the tree and shrub layer, but also on sunlit leaves in the grass layer. On flowers the species is very seldom seen since unlike other butterflies the woodland brown feeds on the sweet secretions of aphids. Plant and tree sap also suit as food. The required mineral substances are obtained from excrements. The caterpillars of the butterfly feed on various sedges and grasses.

 

The woodland brown occurs in the whole of Estonia but not numerously. The species belongs to category III of protected species.