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Arethusana arethusa / False Grayling
Aretusa
Nymphalidae - Satyrinae
Arethusana arethusa ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775). TL: Vienna.
 
 
1a. Arethusana arethusa, distribution map.  Historical data ;  Additional data from the 2018 update ;  New observations since the 2018 update.
1b. Arethusana arethusa ♂ underside. Greece (© Sylvain Cuvelier)
1c. Habitat of Arethusana arethusa. Valikardhë, Albania (© Sylvain Cuvelier)
1d. Arethusana arethusa ♂ underside. Greece (© Sylvain Cuvelier)
Description
♂♂
Medium size butterfly. Fw: 22-24 mm.
Ups: brown gc, variable orange postdiscal bands.
Upf: conspicuous sex-brand, blind dark ocellus in s5.
Uph: often dark ocellus in s2.
Unh: pale brown gc, mixed with dark scales.
♀♀
Slightly larger.
Ups: larger orange postdiscal bands.
Similar species
None.
Life cycle
Adults: single generation from mid-July to September.
Egg: 2 weeks.
Caterpillar: overwintering as very small larva in a tussock of short grass.
Pupa: 24-35 days.
Habitat
Arethusana arethusa inhabits open rocky slopes with some bushes or near the forest edge, from 250 up to 1600 m a.s.l.
Spatial requirement modest, population density often high.
Foodplants
Caterpillars feed on Brachypodium phoenicoides, B. pinnatum, Bromus erectus, Cynosurus cristatus, Dactylis glomerata, Danthonia decumbens, Festuca ovina, F. rubra, Lolium sp. and Poa sp.
Butterflies feed on a large variety of flowers.
Distribution
Albania: local, not recorded from the Northern Albanian Alps. Probably more widespread in the mountains (research needed)
Balkan: AL - BG - BIH - GR - HR - NMK - MNE - RKS - RO - SLO - SRB
Europe: IB - IT - ALP* - BAL - NWE* - UK - SCA - EEU*
Asia Minor, Transcaucasia, Caucasus and further east.
Conservation status
Arethusana arethusa is not endangered. Strong, historical declines in NWE due to habitat loss.
Albanian Red List: LC.
IUCN Red List, category at the Mediterranean level: LC.
Useful links
Bink 2015
Pyrgus.de
Lepiforum
Euroleps
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