| Family | Nymphalidae |
|---|---|
| Subfamily | Satyrinae |
| Genus | Arethusana |
| Species | arethusa |
| Authority | ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) |
| English Name | False Grayling |
| European Red List 2010 | Least Concern (LC) |
|---|---|
| EU 27 Red List 2010 | Least Concern (LC) |
| European Red List 2025 | Least Concern (LC) |
| EU 27 Red List 2025 | Least Concern (LC) |
| Habitats Directive | |
| Bern Convention | |
| CITES |
The False Grayling is an inconspicuous butterfly. It occurs on warm, poor grasslands, often situated near the edges of woodland or scrub, on both calcareous and acid soils. The female drops her eggs at random into the vegetation, leaving the young caterpillars to choose what to eat. They feed on different grasses, including Upright Brome (Bromus erectus), Gray Hair-grass (Corynephorus canescens), Tor-grass (Brachypodium pinnatum), Crested Dog’s-tail (Cynosurus cristatus), and fescues (Festuca spp.). The caterpillars hibernate in the first larval instar. They pupate in a grass tussock and have one brood a year.
Albania / Andorra / Austria / Belgium (Irregular Vagrant) / Belgium: Wallonia (Irregular Vagrant) / Bosnia and Herzegovina / Bulgaria / Croatia / Czechia / France / France: Mainland / Germany (Regionally Extinct) / Greece / Greece: Mainland / Hungary / Italy / Italy: Mainland / North Macedonia / Moldova / Montenegro / Netherlands (Irregular Vagrant) / Portugal / Portugal: Mainland / Romania / European Russia / Serbia / Serbia: Serbia / Serbia: Kosovo / Slovakia / Slovenia / Spain / Spain: Mainland / Switzerland (Regionally Extinct) / European Türkiye / Ukraine /