Soft beige and mottled brown colouring affords this butterfly good camouflage when it rests and sunbathes on rocks. The upper wings which are rarely shown except in flight, are dark brown with an off white / cream band crossing from fore to hind wing. The under wings of the males are both marbled brown, beige and cream whereas the hind wing of the female is a less defined mix of the same colours.

This butterfly inhabits areas of hot, dry grassland with rocks and scrub. It feeds eagerly on thistle and scabious flowers and this may be the best opportunity to get close.

The caterpillars of this species are up to 3cm long, off-white with a brown face and two dark stripes down each side, the tail tapering to a point.

Family: Satyridae
Scientific name: Chazara briseis Linnaeus 1764
English common name: The Hermit
Spanish common name: Banda oblicua

Wing size: 50 -60mm
Altitude: Sea level to 1650m
Flight time: June-August
Over-wintering: Caterpillar
Caterpillar food plant: Grasses (Brachypodium, Poa, Sesleria)
Distribution: south, central and eastern Spain, north Africa, southern Europe

Butterflies of Iberia
These are included in

the list of butterflies in Andalusia.
Images taken in Andalucia, Southern Spain.

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