Plateau des Gras, Bidon, Ardèche, France
Order : Lepidoptera
Family : Nymphalidae
Genus : Brintesia
Species : Brintesia circe circe
A large species with a wingspan of up to around 80mm. It is found in Central and Southern Europe, where it is quite common and widespread, continuing eastwards into the Caucasus and Iran. It is found in a range of dry grassland habitats including bushy areas and light woodland up to an altitude of about 2000m.
There is only one generation flying from June to September. In many ways it is quite different to other Grayling species including being larger and having a powerful and often soaring flight. Both sexes nectar on a variety of wild flowers and the males often 'puddle' on damp ground. A peculiarity of this species is that the female drops her eggs in grasses whilst in flight. The resultant larvae are crepuscular, that means they are active only in the twilight hours, when they feed on various grasses in the Poaceae family.
All my insect pics are single, handheld shots of live insects in wild situations.
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