Speckled Wood

I found this colourful critter inside a yellow flower in some reeds next to a big lake. I wasn't really sure what it was until I got home, but after a bit research, I found that it would turn into a Speckled Wood butterfly.

Adults feed on aphid honeydew. They are rarely seen on flowers except early and late in the year when there are few aphids. Caterpillars eat various grasses, including false brome, cock's-foot, Yorkshire fog and common couch.

When grown into butterflies, the adult will only live around 3 weeks.

Photo by Clive Sidney