False Grayling
Common NameFalse Grayling
Scientific NameArethusana arethusa
FamilyNymphalidae
SubfamilySatyrinae
Wingspan (mm)50
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorsorange, brown, grey, black
HabitatDry grasslands, rocky slopes, scrubland, open woodlands
Geographic RangeSouthern and Central Europe, North Africa, Turkey, Caucasus, Central Asia
Host PlantsBrachypodium, Festuca, Bromus, Poa
Flight PeriodJuly to September
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on host grasses. The larvae feed on grasses and overwinter as small caterpillars. Pupation occurs on the ground among leaf litter.
Identification TipsLook for the distinctive large orange forewing patch with a single black eyespot. The hindwing underside is mottled brown and grey, often with a jagged post-discal line, providing excellent camouflage when at rest.
Description
A medium-sized butterfly characterized by a prominent orange patch on the forewing, which contains a single black eyespot. The undersides, particularly the hindwings, are cryptically mottled in shades of brown and grey.
