Hipparchia (Neohipparchia) statilinus

• Subfamily: Satyrinae - Satyrini
• Wingspan: 40-55 mm
• Flight period: Jul - Sep
• Spread: Common
• Host plants: Poaceae - Cyperaceae

Information

The Hipparchia statilinus also called Tree Grayling is a medium-large size butterfly of the Nymphalidae family, subfamily Satyrinae, with a wingspan of 40-55 mm. Butterfly It is distributed in Central Europe, Southern Europe, North Africa, Anatolia and the Caucasus. *

These butterflies are quite variable, especially in the shades of brown present on the wings and in the intensity of the white bands.
Usually the base color of the upper part of the wings is dark brown in the male, lighter or ocher in the female, with a fringe on the edges. Two black ocelli not evident, pupillated are present on the front wings, while the rear wings show a very small ocular spot. The underside is marbled with dusty white and ocher stripes.

On the underside of each front wing there are two black ocelli surrounded in yellow, the upper ones with a central white spot. Between the two black ocelli are two white points. On the underside of the hind wings there may be a black spot near the posterior and anal margin.

The Hipparchia statilinus is a typical species of the hilly and sub-Mediterranean xero-thermophilic grasslands. In fact, it can be found in hot and arid areas, stony slopes, clearings of woods and heaths from the plain at 1300 m. ** Caterpillars are greenish-beige in color with brownish-green longitudinal stripes.

The larvae feed on various common grasses of the Poaceae family (Deschampsia caespitosa, Festuca ovina, Gramineae, Poa annua) and of the Cyperaceae family (Carex species).


* Lepidoptera mundi https://lepidoptera.eu/ - European Fauna https://fauna-eu.org/
** http://www.farfalleitalia.it/