Large Heath
Common NameLarge Heath
Scientific NameCoenonympha tullia
FamilyNymphalidae
SubfamilySatyrinae
Wingspan (mm)36
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorsorange-brown, dark brown, black, white
HabitatBogs, fens, wet heaths, moorland, damp grasslands
Geographic RangeNorthern and Central Europe, Northern Asia, Northern North America
Host PlantsEriophorum angustifolium (common cottongrass), Carex (sedges), Molinia caerulea (purple moor-grass), Nardus stricta (mat-grass)
Flight PeriodJune to August
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesThis species typically has one generation per year. It overwinters as a larva, feeding on various grasses and sedges. Pupation occurs in spring, leading to adult emergence in early summer.
Identification TipsDistinguished from the similar Small Heath by its larger size and the more prominent, often ringed eyespots on both upper and lower wing surfaces, especially on the hindwing underside. The flight is typically low and weak over vegetation.
Description
A medium-sized butterfly with dull orange-brown upperwings, often with a variable number of small, dark eyespots. The underside of the hindwings typically features a row of white-centered black spots (ocelli) against a muted brown or greyish-brown background.
