(Scopoli, 1763)
Hungarian Glider
Description:
The Hungarian Glider is a butterfly of light, damp woodland, occurring in deciduous, as well as in mixed woods. It is similar to the White Admiral (Limenitis camilla), which is also a woodland butterfly. The butterflies are rarely seen drinking nectar from flowers. It glides from perch to perch with only an occasional flap of the wings. Goat's-beard (Aruncus dioicus), Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria), Bridewort (Spiraea salicifolia), and S. chamaedryfolia are used as food plants.
The female deposits the eggs singly on the upperside of the leaves. After hatching, the tiny caterpillar first eats up the eggshell and then makes itself a shelter in the tip of the leaf. In four places, it eats out narrow grooves across the leaves, and subsequently spins the edges of the leaves together. It only leaves the shelter to feed. In the autumn, it makes another shelter in which to hibernate.
It has one brood a year.
Habitat:
Mixed woodland
Alluvial and very wet forest
Deciduous forests
Similar species:
Neptis sappho