Pearly Heath (Coenonympha arcania)
Species

Taken at Dominale des Coulmes, Vercors, France, on July 21st 2018.
(1/640th sec at f13. © David Hastings)

Description

Family: Satyrinae

Wing span: 29-36 mm

The Pearly Heath is the most widely-distributed Heath in Europe after the Small Heath. The forewing underside is orange with a brown border and small apical spot. The hindwing underside is brown with a broad white or cream-coloured post-discal band, and four or five eyespots.

It is found throughout western Europe (except the British Isles and southern Spain and Portugal), Turkey, the Transcaucasus, southern Russia and the Urals.

Its habitat is grassy, flowery, bushy places, and damp or dry woodland clearings up to 2300m.

Adults are on the wing from late-May to August in a prolonged emergence. There usually a partial second brood in the far south in September. The larva is the over-wintering stage.

The larval foodplants are grasses - Poa pratensis, Melica ciliata and Holcus lanatus.

Its behaviour is similar to that of the Small Heath.

Sightings

25-Jul-2018 : Vercors Natural Park, France
23-Jul-2018 : Vercors Natural Park, France
21-Jul-2018 : Vercors Natural Park, France
20-Jul-2018 : Vercors Natural Park, France

11-Jun-2017 : Velebits National Park, Croatia
10-Jun-2017 : Velebits National Park, Croatia
08-Jun-2017 : Paklenica National Park, Croatia
07-Jun-2017 : Irinovac, Croatia
06-Jun-2017 : Irinovac, Croatia

25-Jul-2015 : Nr Dobrinishte, Bulgaria

27-Jun-2010 : Pinail, Vienne, France (1)
24-Jun-2010 : The Brenne, Loire Valley, France (1)