Gennargentu, Sardinia, Italy, July 2015

Corsica, France, July 2012

With a Corsican heath, Coenonympha corinna.

Field notes and information

Widespread and common where found. Current taxonomic trends are that the taxon from Corsica and Sardinia is the species called aristaeus.

Identification & Similar species: Only in the southern Balkans can confusion occur with the very similar Delattin's grayling H. volgensis. The only reliable separation of the species is by external examination of the genetalia.

Current taxonomic trends suggest that the aristaeus group should be split into a number of separate species, as follows:

aristaeus from Corsica and Sardinia
senthes from the southern Balkans
bachieri from Sicily
algirica from north Africa
maderensis from Madeira

Distribution & Flight: See above for distribution. Flight is generally June to August.

Habitat & Behaviour: Hot stony slopes, often in bushy or wooded areas.

Corsica, France, July 2012

Corsica, France, July 2012

Corsica, France, July 2012

Gennargentu, Sardinia, Italy, July 2015

Corsica, France, July 2012

Gennargentu, Sardinia, Italy, July 2015