Status
This species has legal protection in the UK under the 1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act. The UK distribution can be found on the NBN website.
Habitat
It likes drier conditions than its more common relative "Argynnis aglaja", preferring sandy or rocky hills and banks with patches of the foodplant for the larvae. It is among the first butterfly species to disappear when the vegetation becomes too lush.
Reproduction
The adults fly in July/August and lay eggs near to the larval food plants which are species of violets. The eggs are often laid in places where there are dead bracken on the ground or in areas where the underlying rock is limestone the eggs may be laid in moss overlying rocks. The mosaics are typically one-third grass and two-thirds bracken.
Food
Bugle, Bramble and thistle flowers are favourite nectar sources, for the adult.References:
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