Habitat: Dry steep slopes with shrubs and sparse low vegetation; rocky areas in open woodland; warm rocky slopes with scrub.

Appearance: Widespread but localised in Europe, including the Iberian Peninsula, except for the western Pyrenees and northern Spain. Mallorca. Eastern Pyrenees to Ardèche and Provence in France.

Flying time: End of June to end of August, one generation.

Characteristics: Wingspan 51-68 mm.

Life cycle: Host plants are from the grass family Poaceae, such as Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon), Cat grass (Dactylis glomerata), common Meadow-grass (Poa pratensis), etc. The females lay their eggs separately on the host plants. The caterpillars that emerge feed on various grasses and overwinter in the third or fourth stage among leaf litter or at the base of grass stems. When they resume their development in the spring, the caterpillars reach maturity in June, pupate and give rise to the next generation of adults. The butterflies feed mainly on nectar from various flowers.