(Hufnagel, 1766)
Tree Grayling
Description:
Especially in the northern part of its range, the Tree Grayling is a typical inhabitant of the steppe. It occurs in very warm, dry and nutrient-poor areas with much open ground and sparse vegetation, such as on rockmasses and at the edge of blown sands. The size and markings of this butterfly are very variable.
While remaining on the ground, the female deposits her eggs one by one on withered blades of grass. Grey Hair-grass (Corynephorus canescens), Sheep's-fescue (Festuca ovina), Brown Bent-grass (Agrostis vinealis), bromes (Bromus spp.), Feather grass (Stipa pinnata), and other grasses are used as food plants.
The small caterpillar passes the winter in a grass tussock and, if it does not freeze, remains active during the winter. However, growth only begins after hibernation. As development is very slow, the caterpillar only pupates towards the end of the summer in August. The flight period of the Tree Grayling, that only has one brood a year, is therefore very late.
Habitat:
Dry siliceous grasslands
Dry calcareous grasslands
Similar species:
Hipparchia fatua