Common Glider (Neptis sappho)
Species

Male. Taken nr Petrovo, Bulgaria, on July 21st 2015.
(1/2000th sec at f8. © David Hastings)

Male underside. Taken nr Petrovo, Bulgaria, on July 21st 2015.
(1/200th sec at f14. © David Hastings)

Description

Family: Nymphalinae

Wing span: 40 - 46 mm

This butterfly has velvety black upper surfaces, with one white band on the forewings and two on the hindwings. The sexes are similar.

It is rather widespread in SE Europe, but local and never abundant.

It is found in damp deciduous woodland, forest roads and clearings, and river valleys between 200 and 1500m.

There are two broods per year, the first in May/June and the second in July/September.

The main larval foodplants are Spring Vetchling (Lathyrus vernus) and Black Bitter Vetch (L. niger).

Adults have a characteristic gliding flight.

Sightings

10-Jun-2017 : Velebits National Park, Croatia

23-Jul-2015 : Melnik, Bulgaria
22-Jul-2015 : Kresna Gorge, Bulgaria
21-Jul-2015 : nr Petrovo, Bulgaria
21-Jul-2015 : Melnik, Bulgaria