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Grass Jewel
Chilades trochylus
Distribution: In Europe, only from a few areas of Greece and several
of the Greek islands.
Identification: Distinctive. It is extremely small, brown and has
orange marginal markings on both sides of the hindwing centred with a black
spot. On the underside, each black spot has a shining blue arc - the "Jewel" of
the butterfly's English name.
Flight time: From March to October in a number of broods.
Habitat: Hot dry disturbed ground with sparse grasses.
Behaviour: Flies in well defined colonies. The 5 colonies I've found
have all been restricted to tiny areas. I suspect the butterflies fly further
afield when conditions are right for them to do so, but when feeding/ resting/
mating they don't wander far at all. When individuals did wander upto a few
metres away from the congregation area, they swiftly returned on noticing their
error.
Attracted to flowers which in summer at least are commoner nearer water
sources, ditches or roadside drains. I don't know if this is a habitat
requirement though.
It's very tiny size and sedentary behaviour make it highly likely to be
overlooked, or mistaken for a fly or small moth. The dull brown colouration is
very difficult to pick up and follow in flight and even harder to spot when
resting on the ground or on dry grass.
Additional notes: Outside Europe I've found a single butterfly in
Turkey and a colony beside a river beneath a road bridge in Goa, India.
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