Canary Speckled Wood

Pararge xiphioides

"Pararge xiphioides", the Canary speckled wood, is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae. It is found in the Canary Islands on La Gomera, La Palma, Tenerife and Gran Canaria.
Canary speckled wood (Pararge xiphioides) It is quite common to encounter this butterfly on the islands of La Palma, Tenerife, La Gomera and Gran Canaria. Even though it looks similar to the well known Speckled wood (Pararge aegeria) that can be found all over central Europe and Northern Africa, this species is endemic to the Canary Islands. And there's even a third relative, Pararge xiphia, that only lives on the island of Madeira. The underside of the Canary speckled wood can be seen in this picture: https://www.jungledragon.com/image/146067/underside_canary_speckled_wood_pararge_xiphioides.html Falter,Geotagged,Kanarische Inseln,Pararge xiphioides,Schmetterling,Spain,Tiere,Winter,butterfly,mariposa

Appearance

The wingspan is 40–50 millimetres. Adults are on wing year-round.

It is closely related to the species "Pararge aegeria". differing thus "xiphioides" Stgr., from the Canary Islands, has the upperside darker on account of the smaller and more red-brown spots, while the underside of the hindwing is lighter, less marmorated and provided with a distinct median band, the costal part of which is shaded with white.
Underside: Canary speckled wood (Pararge xiphioides) It is quite common to encounter this butterfly on the islands of La Palma, Tenerife, La Gomera and Gran Canaria. Even though it looks similar to the well known Speckled wood (Pararge aegeria) that can be found all over central Europe and Northern Africa, this species is endemic to the Canary Islands. From the same island, but from a different spot, is a picture of the upper side of this butterfly: https://www.jungledragon.com/image/146066/pararge_xiphioides.html Falter,Geotagged,Kanarische Inseln,Pararge xiphioides,Schmetterling,Spain,Tiere,Winter,butterfly,mariposa

Food

The larvae feed on various plants, including "Brachypodium sylvaticum", "Agrostis capillaris", "Carex divulsa" and "Luzula forsteri".

References:

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Taxonomy
KingdomAnimalia
DivisionArthropoda
ClassInsecta
OrderLepidoptera
FamilyNymphalidae
GenusPararge
SpeciesP. xiphioides
Photographed in
Spain