Hipparchia statilinus, the tree grayling, is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae.
Subspecies Subspecies include:Biolib Hipparchia statilinus statilinus (Hufnagel, 1766) Hipparchia statilinus sylvicola (Austaut, 1880) (Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia)
Distribution The species can be found in Central Europe, Southern Europe, North Africa, Anatolia and the Caucasus."Hipparchia Fabricius, 1807" at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life FormsFauna europaea
Habitat This butterfly can be found in dry, rocky, grassy and bushy areas at an elevation of above sea level.
Description Hipparchia statilinus has a wingspan of .Simon Coombes Captain's European Butterfly Guide These butterflies are rather variable, especially in the shades of brown present on the wings and in the intensity of the white bands. Usually the basic color of the upperside of the wings is dull brown in the male, lighter or ocher in the female, with a fringe on the edges. Two blind or very discreetly pupillated black eyespots are present on the forewings, while the hindwings show a very small eyespot.
The underside is marbled with ocher and dusty white bands. On the underside of each forewing there are two black eyespots ringed in yellow, the upper one with a white central spot. Between the two black eyespots there are two white spots. On the underside of the hindwings there may be a black spot near the posterior and anal margin. The caterpillars are greenish-beige with green-brownish longitudinal stripes.Kimmo Silvonen Larvae of North-European Lepidoptera
Biology Hipparchia statilinus is a univoltine species. The larvae feed on various common grasses of the family Poaceae (Brachypodium phoenicoides, Brachypodium retusum, Bromus erectus, Bromus sterilis, Corynephorus canescens, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca ovina, Koeleria vallesiana, Lolium rigidum, Nardus stricta, Poa annua, Stipa gigantea, Stipa parviflora, Stipa pennata, Oryzopsis canadensis, Deschampsia cespitosa, Anisantha sterilis) and of family Cyperaceae (Carex species).Encyclopedia of life Adults fly from June to October, and can be found resting on rocky ground with closed wings, warming up.
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Paolo Mazzei, Daniel Morel, Raniero Panfili Moths and Butterflies of Europe and North Africa Matt Rowlings Euro Butterflies