Brintesia circe

BUTTERFLY INFO

Brintesia circe is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae on the island of Crete, Greece.

Scientific name

Brintesia circe (Fabricius, 1775)

Common name

Great Banded Grayling

Classification

Family: Nymphalidae > Subfamily: Satyrinae > Tribus: Satyrini > Genus: Brintesia

Wingspan

Male to female: 65-80 mm

Appearance

The butterflies have a broad white band at the edge of the basal area of all wings and usually a second white streak on the lower wings. There is also a black eyespot on the underside of the upper wing and a dentate black line in the submarginal area of the underside of the hindwing.

Behavior

It has a strong flight and very rarely is observed to open the wings when resting.

Habitat

Brintesia circe in Crete lives in mountain fields, in medium altitudes with light shrubland, grassland complexes with trees, forest roads, dry streambeds and plateaus, riverbanks, seaside, etc.

Food plant

The larva lives on Poaceae and Saxifragacae plants.

Flight period

The butterfly flies in one generation per year.

Remarks

Both males and females are large butterflies and have a similar appearance. The butterfly has a unique appearance in Crete and can’t be confused with other butterflies of the island. It is rare sightseeing on the island.

Status*

Least Concern (LC)

(*European Red List of Butterflies, 2010)