Russian Heath
Common NameRussian Heath
Scientific NameCoenonympha leander
FamilyNymphalidae
SubfamilySatyrinae
Wingspan (mm)35
Primary Colorsorange, brown, grey
HabitatDry grasslands, steppe, open woodlands, forest edges
Geographic RangeSoutheastern Europe, Caucasus, Russia, Central Asia
Host PlantsPoa, Festuca, Brachypodium
Flight PeriodJune to August
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on host grasses. Larvae feed on grasses and overwinter, typically in the third instar. Pupation occurs in spring, usually on a grass stem, leading to one generation per year.
Identification TipsLook for the distinct row of black ocelli with white pupils on the underside of the hindwing, set against a plain greyish-brown background. The upperside is a uniform orange-brown without significant markings.
Description
A small to medium-sized butterfly with an orange-brown upperside and a duller brown to greyish-brown underside, prominently featuring a series of black ocelli, each with a white pupil, especially visible on the hindwing.
