Spaanse vlag - Jersey Tiger

Description:

Black upper wings with white stripes and red, orange or yellow lower wings with black spots. There is not a lot of variation in the colouration. In rest the wings stay flat to the surface, but the upper wings slide over and cover the lower wings. It is a nocturnal butterfly that is also active during the day. The fly period lasts from June until September. The caterpillar has a black base colour on which it has rows of orange warts from which long tufts of hair grow. It grows from September until June. The young caterpillar hibernates on the host plant. One generation lasts just one year in total.

Habitat:

Humid forests or shrubbery in the immediate vicinity of calcareous meadows.

Notes:

Almost couldn't find the name for it. It is rather rare in the Netherlands, because it only lives in the south of Limburg. This specimen is a bit tattered already. The picture was taken in August which is at the end of its fly period. The plant it is sitting on is 'Koninginnekruid' (Eupatorium cannabinum), which is the Jersey Tiger's favourite host plant.