Menu

Browns

Grayling Butterfly (Hipparchia semele)

 

About

The Grayling butterfly much prefers to sit rather than fly. Always sitting with wings closed, whether it is sunny or over cast. The colours and markings of the undersides the hind-wings, give almost perfect camouflage with the ground. When disturbed it will fly just a short distance before landing, and doing the amazing disappearing trick once again.

Where

A widespread butterfly mainly found around the coastal regions of England and Wales, and a small number of inland locations.

Grayling Butterfly (Hipparchia semele) showing eye spot

Grayling Butterfly (Hipparchia semele) showing eye spot © Urban Butterfly Garden 2010-2017

Grayling Butterfly (Hipparchia semele)

Grayling Butterfly (Hipparchia semele)

Habitat – Warm dry bare stony or sandy ground around cliffs, sand dunes, heaths and open woodland.

When

June-September with numbers of individuals peaking around August although it may vary slightly from year to year and the colonies location.

Quick Info

  • Family Group– Browns – Nymphalidae
  • Size around – 50mm
  • Larval Food Plant: Various Grasses
  • .
  • Adult Nectar Plant: Hawkweeds, thyme and heather
  • Population Status– Vulnerable with falling numbers due to continued habitat loss
  • Photographed – Wiveton Downs, Norfolk
© Urban Butterfly Garden 2010-2024

Browns – Nymphalidae

 
Choose a Family Group
Swallowtail - Papilionidae

Swallowtail
Papilionidae

 Whites - Pierinae

Whites
Pierinae

Skippers  -  Hesperiidae

Skippers
Hesperiidae

Browns - Nymphalidae

Browns
Nymphalidae

Blues - Lycaenidae

Blues
Lycaenidae

Browns Family group – Nymphalidae

Nymphalidae are a family of butterflies which includes species more commonly known as “Browns” and “Fritillaries”.

There are 22 species of “Browns” that can be found in Britain, some like the Peacock, Comma, Red Admiral, Meadow Brown, and Speckled Wood are fairly widespread throughout the UK, often seen in many Gardens, Parks, Hedgerows and Woodland.

Camberwell Beauty (Nymphalis antiopa)

Camberwell Beauty
(Nymphalis antiopa)

Comma Butterfly (Polygonia c-album) on Leaf

Comma
(Polygonia c-album)

Gatekeeper-Male

Gatekeeper
(Pyronia tithonus)

Grayling Butterfly (Hipparchia semele) in the sun

Grayling
(Hipparchia semele)

Large Heath (Coenonympha tullia)

Large Heath (Coenonympha tullia)

Marbled White Butterfly (Melanargia galathea) wings open on bramble flower

Marbled White (Melanargia galathea)

Meadow Brown Butterfly (Maniola-jurtina)

Meadow Brown
(Maniola-jurtina)

Mountain Ringlet (Erebia epiphron)

Mountain Ringlet
(Erebia epiphron)

Painted Lady Butterfly (Vanessa cardui) in Urban Garden

Painted Lady
(Vanessa cardui)

Peacock Butterfly in sunshine

Peacock
(Inachis io)

Male Purple Emperor Butterfly feeding on salts

Purple Emperor
(Apatura iris)

Red Admiral Butterfly (Vanessa atalanta)

Red Admiral
(Vanessa atalanta)

Ringlet Butterfly (Aphantopus hyperantus)

Ringlet
(Aphantopus hyperantus)

Scotch Argus (Erebia aethiops)

Scotch Argus
(Erebia aethiops)

Small Heath Butterfly (Coenonympha pamphilus)

Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus)

Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly (aglais urticae) in urban garden on white Buddleia

Small Tortoiseshell (aglais urticae)

Speckled wood butterfly (Pararge aegeria)

Speckled Wood
(Pararge aegeria)

White Admiral Butterfly

White Admiral (Limenitis camilla)

Wall Brown Butterfly - Male - Wiverton Down

Wall Brown
(Pararge aegeria)

Fritillaries
Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary (Boloria selene)

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary
(Boloria selene)

Pearl-bordered Fritillary (Boloria euphrosyne)

Pearl-bordered Fritillary
(Boloria euphrosyne)

Queen of Spain Fritillary (Issoria lathonia)

Queen of Spain Fritillary
(Issoria lathonia)

High Brown Fritillary (Argynnis adippe)

High Brown Fritillary (Argynnis adippe)

Dark Green Fritillary (Argynnis aglaja)

Dark Green Fritillary (Argynnis aglaja)

Silver-washed-Fritillary-Male-Bedford-Purlieus

Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia)

Marsh Fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia)

Marsh Fritillary
(Euphydryas aurinia)

Glanville Fritillary (Melitaea cinxia)

Glanville Fritillary (Melitaea cinxia)

Heath Fritillary (Melitaea athalia)

Heath Fritillary
(Melitaea athalia)

© Urban Butterfly Garden 2010-2013