Grayling

Behavior

''Note that information on this species applies to Great Britain and some details may not be consistent with the species in other parts of its range''.

There is one generation. The eggs are laid from July to September singly on the foodplant.The eggs are white at first, but turn pale yellow. The egg stage lasts between 2 and 3 weeks. The first instar and second instar larva feed in mid to late summer and then hibernate , in the 3rd instar, at the base of the tussock. Feeding resumes in the spring and the last instar larvae are nocturnal,hiding in the base of grass tussocks during the day. There are 4 moults in total.The pupa is unattached, in an earth cell. The pupal stage lasts around 4 weeks. The larval instars are August to June,the pupa is formed June to August and the adult flies June to August.They rest with closed wings, forewings lowered between the hindwings as do many Satyrinae. When disturbed, they raise the forewing so that the large eyespots near its apex become visible. A predator attacking the butterfly could either be startled by the sudden appearance of the pattern, or be enticed into attacking the conspicuous spot rather than the butterfly's body .

Males are territorial and show courtship behaviour. Both sexes are nectar-feeding .

Habitat

Coast, dunes, salt marsh, undercliffs, clifftops, dry heathland, calcareous grassland, old quarries, earthworks, derelict old spoil heaps, open woodland on stony ground, dry and well-drained soil, with sparse vegetation and plenty of bare ground in open sunny positions.

Reproduction

*Sheep's-fescue ''Festuca ovina''
⤷ Red Fescue ''Festuca rubra''
⤷ Bristle Bent ''Agrostis curtisii''
⤷ Early Hair-grass ''Aira praecox''
⤷ Tufted Hair-grass ''Deschampsia cespitosa''
⤷ Marram ''Ammophila arenaria''
⤷ Upright Brome ''Bromus erectus''
⤷ Slim-stem Reed Grass ''Calamagrostis neglecta''
⤷ Grey Hair-grass ''Corynephorus canescens''
⤷ Cock's-foot ''Dactylis glomerata''
⤷ Couch Grass''Elymus repens''
⤷ ''Agropyron'' species
⤷ ''Triticum'' species