Great Banded Grayling (Brintesia circe) lives in dry grasslands across Southern Europe. It feeds on grasses and leaves.
Fascinating facts about the Great Banded Grayling
- The great banded grayling is the sole representative of its genus, meaning Brintesia contains only a single species. This places the butterfly firmly within the family Nymphalidae and the subfamily Satyrinae, defining its broader taxonomic context. Its scientific name, Brintesia circe, therefore carries the entire identity of the genus. All biological references to Brintesia therefore refer to this one species.
- Each wing of the great banded grayling bears a broad white band along the basal edge, and the hindwings usually display a second white streak that is absent in similar species. This pattern contrasts sharply with Hipparchia fagi, which never shows the additional streak and has eyespots outlined in yellow rather than white. The distinct white markings therefore provide a reliable visual cue for distinguishing the two butterflies in the field.
- In southern Europe the great banded grayling can appear in strikingly large aggregations, especially along the Mediterranean coast where it is described as occurring in countless numbers. A naturalist once recorded more than thirty individuals perched together on a single tree near Genoa, illustrating how densely they can gather.
- After feeding on grasses such as Lolium and Anthoxanthum until June, the larva pupates on the ground where the chrysalis rests free of any support. It is noticeably thick in the centre and tapers to a point at both ends, giving it a distinctive silhouette. The casing is coloured a deep purple-brown and bears a series of yellowish translucent windows on the wing-cases where the adult's white forewing band would appear.
Sources
Every fact above was checked against these pages, and kept only where one of them states it.
At a glance
RangeSouthern Europe
HabitatDry grasslands
DietGrasses and leaves
About the Great Banded Grayling
As the warm sunlight dances across the rugged terrain, the Great Banded Grayling emerges, its delicate wings beating in a hypnotic rhythm as it flutters from bloom to bloom, sipping nectar with an air of gentle elegance. With its somber, gray-brown hues, this butterfly blends seamlessly into the rocky landscape, its subtle beauty waiting to be uncovered by the discerning eye. As it alights upon a weathered stone, its wings fold and unfold in a soft, whispery motion, revealing the striking bands that give this enigmatic creature its name.
Hear the Great Banded Grayling, and 4,400+ more
Real recorded sounds, 11 nature games and a free Daily 5, 1v1 quiz duels, conservation wins and a safe Kids mode. Free on Feravox.
More insects and spiders to discover
