Insect
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Size
4.5–5.3 cm (wingspan)About the size of a large postage stamp
Weight
Under 1 gramLighter than a paperclip
Lifespan
A few weeks as an adult, in two or three broods between April and October
Rarity
Uncommon
M vs F
Males have a dark diagonal sex-brand across the forewing; females are usually larger and paler orange-brown
Habitat
Hot, sunny spots such as open grassland, sand dunes, rocky foreshores, quarries and railway cuttings — increasingly restricted to coastal areas inland
Best time
April–October, in two or three broods
Conservation
LC
💡 Did you know?
Wall Browns get their name from their habit of basking with wings wide open on walls, bare ground and rocks to soak up the sun.
Wall Brown numbers have fallen sharply at inland sites since the 1990s, and the species is now largely confined to coastal habitats across much of England — a decline linked to habitat loss and possibly a changing climate affecting its grass foodplants.
Often confused with
Speckled Wood (darker brown with cream spots
prefers shade)
Gatekeeper (smaller
more solidly orange)
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