Saving the small things that run the planetLatin name: Hipparchia semele
Notable feature: When resting, the wings are always closed and the eyespot (on the underside of the upper wing) is often hidden, making it appear much smaller than it is. The colour of the upperside of each wing appears brown with eye spots present.
Conservation Status: Least Concern
Where in the UK: This butterfly forms discrete colonies and, while some colonies are inland, the overall distribution of this butterfly would suggest that this is primarily a coastal species, at least in the British Isles.
The Grayling Butterfly (Hipparchia semele) is a native butterfly; it is the largest of our “browns”. Although its IUCN Conservation Status is Least Concern (as listed above), the Grayling is now identified on the Red List of British Butterflies as Endangered; it can also be found on the Scottish Biodiversity List and is listed as High Priority for Butterfly Conservation.
When resting, the wings are always closed and the eyespot (on the underside of the upper wing) is often hidden, making it appear much smaller than it is. The colour of the upperside of each wing appears brown with eye spots present.
The underwing of the adult is mottled-brown and they appear larger in flight when pale yellow-orange bands can be seen.
The Grayling is a master of disguise – although fairly conspicuous in flight, it mysteriously disappears as soon as it lands, perfectly camouflaged against a background of bare earth and stones, always resting with its wings closed.
Buglife is working to increase awareness of invertebrates and the Grayling Butterfly through specific projects, including B-Lines and campaigns such as “Ardeer Peninsula – Scotland’s bee haven” but we need your help!
Buglife B-Lines are an imaginative and beautiful solution to the problem of the loss of flowers and pollinators. B-Lines are a series of ‘insect pathways’ running through our countryside and towns, along which we are restoring and creating a series of wildflower-rich habitat stepping stones. Linking existing wildlife areas together, creating a network, like a railway, that will weave across the UK landscape. More information about B-Lines and how you can help pollinators can be found on our B-Lines & Pollinator Projects pages.
Get involved with the UK Butterfly monitoring scheme or download the iRecord app and get recording!
Do remember that we rely on donations to continue our work. If you have searched, found and learnt about our incredible invertebrates on our website, please do consider Making a Donation, Becoming a Member or maybe even making a purchase in our shop. For more ideas on how to support our work find out how to Get Involved. Thank you 🕷
