Hipparchia statilinus is an extremely rare resident. The species is threatened with extinction; it is categorised as 'critically endangered' on the Red List of 2006, whereas it was listed as 'vulnerable' on that of 1995. The Dutch Monitoring Scheme indicates a decline in numbers of more than 75% in the last five years; the remaining population is estimated at sixty individuals. At the beginning of the 20th century, the species could be found all over the Veluwe in the province of Gelderland, on the Utrechtse heuvelrug in the province of Utrecht, and in some areas in the south. At present, it is confined to five small spots in the south of the Veluwe. The males are often seen where open, blown sand and heather meet. After mating, the females are usually found in the sparser part of the heath, near solitary heather plants. The eggs are mostly laid on Corynephorus canescens, on plants growing with mosses and lichens in very short, sparse vegetation, with occasional bare, sandy patches. It flies in one generation from early-August until the beginning of September and hibernates as a young caterpillar. As its decline is mainly due to heathland becoming overgrown with woody species and the disappearence of open, pioneer vegetation, the areas of bare sand on the Veluwe should be enlarged.

Bron

Auteur(s)

Wynhoff, I., Swaay, C. van, Groenendijk, D., Bosveld, M., Bos, F.

Publicatie

• Bos, F., M. Bosveld, D. Groenendijk, C. van Swaay & I. Wynhoff 2006. De dagvlinders van Nederland, verspreiding en bescherming. Nederlandse Fauna 7. De Vlinderstichting, Wageningen en Nationaal Natuurhistorisch Museum Naturalis, European Invertebrate Survey, Nederland.