Things With Wings
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Grayling
Hipparchia semele
1 photo
·1 photographer
·Common · 1 ptsCamouflaged brown butterfly of sandy heaths and dunes; snaps wings shut when perched.
1 community photo of Grayling on Things With Wings. Top-rated shots often use around 1/800ss shutter, 300mm.
Species Profile
Amber List (specialist grassland species with declining UK range and population).
- Lifespan
- 2–3 weeks as an adult butterfly
- Size & Weight
- wingspan 42–50 mm
- Habitat
- Dry, open grassland and heathland with sparse vegetation, particularly on south-facing slopes with bare ground and short turf.
- UK Distribution
- Southern England from Devon and Cornwall eastwards to Kent and Sussex, with scattered populations in the Midlands and Wales; resident, non-migratory, though local populations fluctuate significantly year to year.
- Diet
- Caterpillars feed on various grass species, particularly Tor-grass (Brachypodium pinnatum) and Red Fescue (Festuca rubra); adults drink from damp ground, rarely from flowers.
- Predators
- Small birds, spiders, parasitic wasps, and robber flies.
- Mating Season
- July to September
- Breeding
- Single brood per year; females lay eggs singly on or near foodplants in late summer; caterpillars overwinter and pupate in spring; eggs hatch after approximately 2–3 weeks.
- Behaviour
- Graylings are territorial and cryptic, spending much time resting on the ground with wings closed, relying on camouflage to avoid detection. Males perch on bare ground or rocks to watch for females, and both sexes bask with wings folded vertically. They are reluctant fliers and typically stay within small home ranges.
Sources and editorial status
The short identification summary comes from the Things With Wings species catalogue. The extended species profile is AI-assisted and has not been individually reviewed by a wildlife expert, so verify important identification or conservation details with the specialist sources below.
Profile generated 5 August 2026
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Camera Settings (top photos)
Shutter
1/800ss
ISO Range
400
Aperture
f/f/5.6
Focal Length
300mm
