Spanish Gatekeeper, Lobito listado

Description:

Butterfly of the Nymphalidae family. Wingspan of 36-42 mm. the male has the upper side of the wing similar to other pyronia but with broader androconia and three ocela in the hind wing. The under side of the hind wing is brown with a cream coloured band with black ocela with white pupils and and yellow-orange rinds. The female is bigger and paler. It flies from May to August. It lay the eggs dropping them one by one from flight on the vegetation. Larvae are bluff-grayish with dark dots on the sides. They feed on graminea like Brachypodium sylvaticum, B. phoenicoides, Poa trivialis, P. annua, P. pratensis, and Bromus.

Habitat:

Common in warm areas with shrubs. Spotted in dispersed Holm oak forest.

Notes:

Camera Model: NIKON D300. Exposure Time: 1/30 sec. f/36 ISO Speed Rating: 200. Focal Length: 90.0 mm. Flash fired.