Hipparchia fagi, the woodland grayling, is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae.
Etymology The Latin species name fagi, meaning of "beech" (=fagus), refers to the prevailing species of trees in the relating biotope.
Subspecies There are tree subspecies:
Distribution and habitat This species is widespread in southern half of Europe, from south of Belgium to central Germany, southern Poland, and to western Siberia (Yekaterinburg region east of the Urals). It occurs on broad-leaved deciduous forests, coniferous woodland, grassy vegetation, in woodland glades and woodland rides from sea level to 1,500 m–2,000 m elevation.
Description
Hipparchia fagi has a wingspan of .Simon Coombes Captain's European Butterfly Guide These large butterflies have dark brown uppersides of the wings, with a fringed margin, a white submarginal band more evident in the females and one black eyelet at the apex of each forewings. In the males the white band has a single very small eyelet on each hindwing, sometimes showing a white pupil, while in the females it shows one or two ocelli.Papillons du Poitou-Charentes
The underside of the forewings is rather similar to the upperside: The hindwings are marbled of brown and white with a broad white band. The white band on the internal edge of the underside hindwings is curved, while the white band on the underside forewings is often without a significant indent.Euro Butterflies by Matt Rowlings
The colouration and pattern of these butterflies are an excellent camouflage on the bark of the trunks where the butterfly usually rests, with the eyespots hidden by the closed wings. It is rather similar to Hipparchia alcyone, Hipparchia syriaca and Hipparchia genava.
The caterpillar has a pale brown head with four darker streaks. Body is light brown with a bifid posterior end, a dark brown dorsal band and brownish lateral bands.D.J. Carter et B. Hargreaves, Guide des chenilles d'Europe, Delachaux et Niestlé, 2001,
Biology Adults fly from June to September, or even to October. This species has one generation a year. The caterpillars overwinter. The larvae feed on various types of grass, such as Brachypodium pinnatum, Bromus erectus, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus and Holcus mollis.
Bibliography Kudrna, O. (1977): A Revision of the Genus Hipparchia Fabricius. — 300 S., Faringdon – London Kudrna, O., Harpke, A., Lux, K., Pennerstorfer, J., Schweiger, O., Settele, J. & M. Wiemers (2011): Distribution atlas of butterflies in Europe. – 576 S.; Halle a.d. Saale Lionel G. Higgins et Norman D. Riley, Guide des papillons d'Europe, Delachaux et Niestlé, 1988, (Lausanne). Tom Tolman, Richard Lewington, Guide des papillons d'Europe et d'Afrique du Nord, Delachaux et Niestlé, ().
References
External links
Paolo Mazzei, Daniel Morel, Raniero Panfili Moths and Butterflies of Europe and North Africa Larvae of North-European