(Fabricius, 1793)
Spanish Gatekeeper
Description:
The markings on the Spanish Gatekeeper are brighter than those of the other gatekeepers. The butterflies are mostly found on dry, rather rough, grassy vegetation with trees or bushes in the neighbourhood.
The caterpillars feed on grasses, especially false-bromes (Brachypodium spp.), but also probably bromes (Bromus spp.), and meadow-grasses (Poa spp.).
The Spanish Gatekeeper is single-brooded, and passes the winter in the caterpillar stage.
Habitat:
Shrub and grassland
Dry siliceous grasslands
Dry calcareous grasslands
Phrygana vegetation
Sclerophyllous scrub
Similar species:
Unmistakable