Minois dryas

Subspecies

Subspecies include:

Distribution and habitat

This species can be found in Southern and Central Europe up to Central Asia and Japan. It prefers margins of mixed woodland and sunny grasslands with plenty of flowers, at an elevation of 100–1,600 metres (330–5,250 ft) above sea level.

Description

The wingspan is 54–70 millimetres (2.1–2.8 in). The basic color of the upperside of the wings is dark brown.The females are larger and paler than the males. On each forewings there are two large eyelets with bluish pupil, while in each hindwing there is just a small eyelet. The undersiside of the wings is quite similar, but the eyelets on the forewings show a yellowish border and the hindwings are mainly gray-brown.

This species is rather similar to Satyrus actaea and Satyrus ferula. In the last one the forewing eyespots centred with white.

Biology

The butterfly is on wing from June to September depending on the location. They usually feeds on nectar of Scabious (Scabiosa species), Hemp Agrimony (Eupatorium cannabinum) and other tall flowers. The larvae feed on grass species, such as Molinia caerulea, Arrhenatherum elatius, Oryza sativa, Avena, Dactylis, Poa, Festuca, Carex, Calamagrostis and Bromus species .