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| All contents and photographs copyright Matt Rowlings, ©2003-2008. |
| Photos: explicit permission must be obtained from Matt Rowlings for any use of any images from eurobutterflies.com. |
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Tree Grayling
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Valais, Switzerland, August 2006 |
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Middle Atlas, Morocco, June 2005 |
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Alpes de Haute Provence, France, August 2005 |
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Tree Grayling Distribution: Widespread. Colonies are rarer in the north where it appears to be under threat. In hot Mediterranean areas it can be quite common. N Africa, Spain, France, Italy, Balkans, Greece, Hungary and neighbouring countries to the NW, Poland and NE Germany. Identification: Variable but fairly distinctive, with a little experience. It has two large black eyespots on the underside forewing ringed in yellow and two white spots in between. The hindwing is fairly uniform with a thin black discal line bordered on the outside by a dusty white band. Usually a small black spot near the anal angle. The general patters are usually present, but the shades of brown and intensity of the white markings on the hindwing vary. Some individuals (especially in north Africa, subspecies sylvicola) are rather uniform grey brown on the underside, the majority though have whitish scaling that give them marbled effect that is cryptic when resting on whiter rocks. In Greece and the southern Balkans, it can be confused with the very similar Freyer's Grayling, N. fatua. This is a larger butterfly with relatively smaller black eyespots on the underside forewing, much reduced white and a fine black submarginal line on the underside of both wings. In North Africa it can be confused with the Austaut's Grayling, N. hansii. This butterfly is smaller and has relatively very large eyespots on the underside forewing. There is no spot on the anal angle and the forewing apex is rounded. The andriconial patch in the male is smaller, but to see this feature it is necessary to capture the butterfly and open its wings as neither species rest with wings open. Flight time: July to October. I've only found it flying in July in Greece, more typically mid August in France and September in N Africa and Switzerland. Habitat: Dry grassy places with scrub. Upto around 1500m in Europe, 2500m in N Africa. Larvae feed on various grasses. Behaviour: Never rests with wings open. Usually rests on tree trunks in the shade of hot sunshine, or on rocks or soil when needing to warm up. |
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Alpes de Haute Provence, France, August 2005 |
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Var, France, August 2004 |
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Var, France, August 2004 |
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Var, France, August 2004 |
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Montes Universales, Spain, August 2003 |
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Provence, France, August 2001 |
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Middle Atlas, Morocco, September 2001 Relatively uniform underside of this subspecies sylvicola. |
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Provence, France, September 2003 |
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