Male. Taken at Alameda Botanic Garden, Gibraltar, on September 14th 2010. (© David Hastings)
(1/320th sec at f5.7)

Male. Taken at Alameda Botanic Garden, Gibraltar, on September 14th 2010. (© David Hastings)
(1/200th sec at f5.7)

Description

Family: Nymphalinae

Wing span: 65-75 mm (m); 75-90 mm (f)

This is a large, powerful, unmistakeable butterfly.

It is mainly found in coastal Mediterranean regions.

Its preferred habitat is hot, dry, often dense, mixed scrub containing an abundance of the laval food plant.

The species is bi-voltine, with adults being on the wing in May/June and mid-August/mid-October. The larva is the over-wintering stage.

The main larval foodplant is the Strawberry Tree (Arbutus unedo).

This species exhibits marked territorial and 'hilltopping' behaviour. Both sexes are strongly attracted to ethanol in fermenting fruit.

Sightings