Nymphalidae: Satyrinae

07312 Large Wall Brown Lasiommata maera, (Linnaeus, 1758)

BF -- (ABH59.000)

Sandanski, SW Bulgaria, 3rd July 2008, male.
Sandanski, SW Bulgaria, 3rd July 2008, male.
 Photo © Nick Greatorex-Davies
Sandanski, SW Bulgaria, 3rd July 2008, male.
 Photo © Nick Greatorex-Davies
 2010-2016
 2017
 2018
 2019
Dabrostan, Western Rhodipi Mtns., 19th June 2013. Male.
Dabrostan, Western Rhodipi Mtns., 19th June 2013. Male.
 Photo © Nick Greatorex-Davies
Zabardo, Western Rhodopi Mountains, 22nd June 2015. Male.Male, 1 of 2.
Zabardo, Western Rhodopi Mountains, 22nd June 2015. Male.Male, 1 of 2.
 Photo © Nick Greatorex-Davies
Zabardo, Western Rhodopi Mountains, 22nd June 2015. Male. 2 of 2.
Zabardo, Western Rhodopi Mountains, 22nd June 2015. Male. 2 of 2.
 Photo © Nick Greatorex-Davies


General Information

The Large Wall Brown is much more widespread and more frequently encountered than its localised mountain cousin the Northern Wall Brown (L. petropolitana).

It is larger and paler than the Northern Wall Brown, and lacks the discal wavy transverse line across the centre of the upperside of the hindwing, clearly present in the Northern Wall Brown.

Females are more orange than the males but should not normally be mistaken for the smaller and much more orange Wall Brown (L. megera), which is common and widespread in Bulgaria. The Wall Brown has very clearly defined netting markings on the forewing in both sexes. This netting pattern is at best indistinct in the Large Wall Brown (more apparent in females) and hardly visible on the Northern Wall Brown.

 



Habitat

We have recorded it from low altidues (<200m) to 1600m and higher, and very occasionally to over 2000 masl, however these may be wanderes taken up the mountain by wind currents.

Regional Information

Recorded in 43 (2.3%) of the 1900 10km squares of Bulgaria.

Last recorded in June 2019

Recorded date range (Adult): 09 May to 11 August

Similar Species
Dobrostan, Western Rhodopi Mtns., 19th May 2019. Male
Dobrostan, Western Rhodopi Mtns., 19th May 2019. Male
 Photo © Nick Greatorex-Davies
Northern Wall Brown Lasiommata petropolitana