- Lifespan
- 2–3 weeks as an adult; 1 year from egg to adult
- Size & Weight
- wingspan 42–50 mm
- Habitat
- Unimproved grasslands, meadows, woodland edges, and rough ground with tall grass.
- UK Distribution
- Found throughout mainland Britain and Wales, absent from Ireland and northern Scotland; resident, non-migratory with single annual generation.
- Diet
- Adults feed on nectar and honeydew; caterpillars feed on various grass species, particularly red fescue and tor-grass.
- Predators
- Birds, spiders, and small mammals; caterpillars preyed upon by parasitoid wasps and flies.
- Mating Season
- July to September
- Breeding
- Single brood per year; females lay eggs singly on grass stems from July onwards; eggs overwinter and hatch in spring; caterpillar stage lasts several months.
- Behaviour
- Males are territorial and perch low on vegetation scanning for females; they exhibit a distinctive bouncing flight. Females are more cryptic and spend time searching for suitable grasses on which to lay eggs. They rarely visit flowers, preferring to feed on honeydew.