Butterfly ID
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Field guide · Sweden
Brush-footed butterflies · Sweden

Large heath

Coenonympha tullia

A grass butterfly with dull brown-yellow wings and distinct eye spots in southern individuals, while northern subspecies may lack them entirely. It is found throughout Northern Europe, except for Gotland, and lives in open meadowlands and at the edges of peat bogs.

Status in this countryLeast concern in SwedenLC (Least concern)
Large heath

Flight period

From the end of June, southward; further north from the first week of July through the beginning of August.

Habitat

Open wetland areas of a poor type, the edges of peat bogs and marshes, swinging hummocks in the margins of lakes, and bell thistle meadows.

Identifying features

Wingspan 26–38 millimetres. The wings are a glossy brown-yellow on the upper side; the nominotypical form has clear eye spots on both upper and lower sides, whereas the northern under forms have significantly reduced or absent eye spots. The underside of the hindwing is grey to greyish-brown with a clear white or greyish-white transverse band.

Similar species

No similar species are described in the sources consulted.

Distribution

Widespread throughout all of Scandinavia, except for Gotland, in the coastal areas of western Norway, and in the mountain regions north of Jämtland.

Biology

The larvae feed on species of Carex and Eriophorum, in Sweden primarily grey sedge (Carex species), tufted sedge (Carex species), cotton grass (Eriophorum species), and cotton grass. The larvae overwinter as semi-grown individuals at the base of sedge clumps.