Hipparchia semele is quite a scarce resident. Contrary to elsewhere in Europe, the species does not occur on limestone grassland, preferring instead dry heathland, dry grasslands and the coastal dunes. Its occurrence was stable until the mid-1960s, but between 1965-1985, the population halved. The Dutch Monitoring Scheme indicates a steep decline. It is categorised as 'susceptible' on the Red List. It prefers an open landscape rich in structure, with patches of heather, grass, bare soil and an occasional bush or tree. It mostly uses Festuca ovina as larval foodplant, but some other species of grass serve as well. Its decline is due to habitat loss through land reclamation, abandonment of pasture land and the expansion of the invasive moss Campylopus introflexus. At present, many heathland habitats have become overgrown with moss or grass and no longer have a suitable structure. On large expanses of heathland, light trampling, the result of extensive grazing or a limited amount of recreation, can help keep the vegetation open. Measures, such as sod cutting or rotational mowing, can help maintain a varied vegetation structure. The species flies in one generation from mid-July until the end of August and hibernates as a half-grown caterpillar.

Bron

Auteur(s)

Wynhoff, I., Groenendijk, D., Swaay, C. van, 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.