26-9-2023 REVILLA, ARAGON - ROCK GRAYLING BUTTERFLY (Hipparchia alcyone)

Hipparchia hermione, the rock grayling, is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae. The species can be found in Central Europe, Southern Europe, Eastern Europe, North Africa, Anatolia and the Caucasus.

The wingspan is 27–34 millimetres (1.1–1.3 in).The ground colour is dark brown. There is a white submarginal band, bordered with an interrupted fringe and a large black ocellus at the apex of the forewing. The hindwing has a small ocellus with a very discrete pupil

The underside of the forewing is similar: brown with a white submarginal band and the black ocellus with white pupil at the apex, while the hindwing is marbled with brown and white with a broad white band. No sexual dimorphism.

Similar to Hipparchia fagi, but on the underside the deep dark basal area of both wings contrasts much more sharply with the light band, and the latter, which is almost pure white on the hindwing, contrasts again conspicuously with the broad dark distal margin. The conspicuousness of the pattern on the underside of the hindwing is especially noticeable in the male, but even in the duller coloured female the band on the hindwing beneath is still quite distinct, although sparsely irrorated with black.

It is smaller than fagi.

23-8-2021 CUENCA, LA MANCHA - ROCK GRAYLING BUTTERFLY (Hipparchia alcyone)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/362064-Hipparchia-alcyone

2-7-2020 ROSSELL, CASTELLON - ROCK GRAYLING BUTTERFLY (Hipparchia alcyone)

The Rock Grayling (Hipparchia alcyone or H. semele) is a master-camouflage butterfly found in dry, rocky, and woodland habitats across Europe, particularly in the south and Finland. It rarely shows its dark brown and orange-spotted upper wings, preferring to keep them closed to blend into stones or bark.

Key Facts about the Rock Grayling Butterfly

Camouflage Specialist: Their wings have an intricate grey-and-black pattern underneath (cryptic coloring) that mimics bark or stone, making them nearly invisible when resting.

Behavior: They almost never open their wings, preferring to sit in sunny spots to regulate body temperature.Habitat: They favor warm, dry environments, particularly pine woods, oak groves, and rocky areas, often seen in southern Europe and mountainous regions (up to 1900 m).

Diet: Caterpillars feed on grasses such as Festuca and Arrhenatherum.

Life Cycle: They are univoltine, meaning they produce one generation per year, flying from June to August.

Identification: They have a large wingspan (\(4.6 - 6\text{ cm}\)) and feature prominent black "eyespots" with white centers on their forewings, used to startle predators.

Conservation: While not immediately threatened globally, their populations are experiencing declines, particularly in northern Europe.

14-8-2018 BEZAS, TERUEL - ROCK GRAYLING BUTTERFLY (Hipparchia alcyone)

Hipparchia hermione, the rock grayling, is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae. The species can be found in Central Europe, Southern Europe, Eastern Europe, North Africa, Anatolia and the Caucasus.

The wingspan is 27–34 millimetres (1.1–1.3 in).The ground colour is dark brown. There is a white submarginal band, bordered with an interrupted fringe and a large black ocellus at the apex of the forewing. The hindwing has a small ocellus with a very discrete pupil

The underside of the forewing is similar: brown with a white submarginal band and the black ocellus with white pupil at the apex, while the hindwing is marbled with brown and white with a broad white band. No sexual dimorphism.

Similar to Hipparchia fagi, but on the underside the deep dark basal area of both wings contrasts much more sharply with the light band, and the latter, which is almost pure white on the hindwing, contrasts again conspicuously with the broad dark distal margin. The conspicuousness of the pattern on the underside of the hindwing is especially noticeable in the male, but even in the duller coloured female the band on the hindwing beneath is still quite distinct, although sparsely irrorated with black.

It is smaller than fagi.

The butterflies fly from June to September on steep rocky slopes, in open forest, margins and forest clearings and in shrubland.

The larvae feed on various types of grass.