As its name suggests this species resembles the Wall Brown but it is noticeably larger with paler, less intricate upperside markings. The darker males fly conspicuously in open grassy areas whilst the paler females are more reclusive. Individuals found in Scandinavia are much darker than their southern counterparts. I found them to be fairly common near wooded areas in the Pyrenees where they were active despite overcast or drizzly conditions.
Distribution: Most of Europe; absent from Britain and Ireland, SW Iberia, W France, C Italy, N Germany and the Netherlands, N Fennoscandia and most Mediterranean islands except Sicily.
Flight Period: April-September in 2 broods. Single-brooded (June-August) in the north.
Habitat: Warm rocky scrub, brownfield land, dry woodland edges and clearings, scree slopes up to 2900m.
Foodplants: A range of grasses (Poaceae).
Nectar Sources: Scabious (Knautia), Knapweed (Centaurea), Hawkweed (Hieracium), Thistles (Cirsium), Clary (Salvia pratensis) etc.
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- Large Wall Brown, Gavarnie, France, July 2019
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- Large Wall Brown, Sierra de Almijara, Spain, July 2020
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- Large Wall Brown, Gavarnie, France, July 2019
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- Large Wall Brown, Marmaris, Turkey, May 2023
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- Large Wall Brown, Sierra de Almijara, Spain, July 2020
