Grayling

• Latin name: Hipparchia semele
• Family group: Browns
• Countries: England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland
• Size: Medium, Large

Resident

Range declining in some areas.

Cryptic colouring provides the Grayling with excellent camouflage, making it difficult to see when at rest on bare ground, tree trunks, or stones. The wings are kept closed when not in flight and the fore wings are usually tucked behind the hind wings, concealing the eyespots and making the butterfly appear smaller. In flight this is a distinctive, large butterfly with a looping and gliding flight, during which the paler bands on the upperwings are visible.

The Grayling is widespread on the coast and southern heaths, but is declining in many areas, particularly inland.

Conservation status

• UK Biodiversity Action Plan: Priority Species
• Butterfly Conservation Priority: High
• European threat status: not threatened

European/world range

Through Europe as far north as 63B:N, but absent from parts of south-east Europe, and extending into western and northern Asia. It is declining in many European countries.

Foodplants

The main species used include Sheep's-fescue (Festuca ovina), Red Fescue (F. rubra), Bristle Bent (Agrostis curtisii), and Early Hair-grass (Aira praecox). Coarser grasses such as Tufted Hair-grass (Deschampsia cespitosa) and Marram (Ammophila arenaria) are occasionally used.

Habitat

Many colonies are coastal, on dunes, saltmarsh, undercliffs, and clifftops. Inland, colonies are found on dry heathland, calcareous grassland, old quarries, earthworks, derelict industrial sites such as old spoil heaps and, in a few areas, in open woodland on stony ground. It occurs on a wide range of soil types, but all are dry and well-drained, with sparse vegetation and plenty of bare ground in open positions.