Grayling (hipparchia semele)
2008 photos highlighted green. Click on any photo to go to an enlarged picture, or simply scroll down the page.
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| 9551_male_Var_5Sep07 | 14299_male_Var_17Sep08 | 14395_male_Var_29Sep08 |
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| 14323_female_Var_17Sep08 | 4197_female_Var_2Sep06 |
In the UK, there is no question of mis-identification, but there are a number of close relatives in France although most are clearly distinguishable from semele (but not necessarily from each other). There is also the very similar Southern Grayling (H. aristaeus) but I do not believe this occurs in mainland France, which is just as well, as I have seen individuals that are almost identical to the book illustrations of aristaeus. The male has a more pronounced unh white post-discal band, with a less jagged discal line than in the female. These are both of the subspecies cadmus which is the normal form in southern France, with and altitude range of 0-1700m. It is larger than the nominate form, quite noticeably so, with a dark unh basal area and white post-discal band clearly defined, more so in the male.
In the UK, semele is restricted to coastal regions, although in Var it is very much a mid-altitude species, where I usually find it at 500m to 1000m and often higher. It is not usually found in numbers, and often scarcer than its hipparchia relatives with which it often flies. It always settles with wings closed, but has a lighter upperside than many of its relatives, so can often be identified in flight.
9551: the strong white post-discal band is indicative of a male, and the discal line is quite squarish in the centre whereas the female is usually more jagged here. This may not be indicative though. Altitude 920m.
14299: a male, rather undistinguished markings.
14395: a rather dark male, with no real indication of the unf orange markings. Very little contrast across the discal line, and a strangely rounded (c.f. the other photos) discal line shape.
14323: a typical, rather dull, female.
4197: the discal line is VERY pointed, and the post-discal band not so clearly white, indicating female.
