| Family | Nymphalidae |
|---|---|
| Subfamily | Satyrinae |
| Genus | Chazara |
| Species | briseis |
| Authority | (Linnaeus, 1764) |
| English Name | The Hermit |
| European Red List 2010 | Near Threatened (NT) |
|---|---|
| EU 27 Red List 2010 | Near Threatened (NT) |
| European Red List 2025 | Least Concern (LC) |
| EU 27 Red List 2025 | Least Concern (LC) |
| Habitats Directive | |
| Bern Convention | |
| CITES |
The Hermit inhabits steppe-like grasslands in dry, warm places. In the northern part of its distribution range, it is restricted to dry chalk hills. Although it is a very large butterfly, when its wings are closed, it blends perfectly into its surroundings. Especially when resting so on a rock, they are almost invisible. The female deposits her eggs one at a time on the withered blades of many different grasses, including false-bromes (Brachypodium spp.), bromes (Bromus spp.), and fescues (Festuca spp.). The caterpillars hibernate in the first larval instar. They pupate in a sort of cocoon, in a little hollow in the ground, or sometimes low down on the foodplant. The Hermit has one brood a year and is one of the most seriously threatened species in central Europe.
Albania / Andorra / Austria / Belgium (Regionally Extinct) / Belgium: Wallonia (Regionally Extinct) / Bosnia and Herzegovina / Bulgaria / Croatia / Cyprus / Czechia / France / France: Mainland / France: Corsica (Possibly Present) / Germany / Greece / Greece: Mainland / Hungary / Italy / Italy: Mainland / Italy: Sicily / Luxembourg (Regionally Extinct) / North Macedonia / Moldova / Montenegro / Poland (Regionally Extinct) / Romania / European Russia / Serbia / Serbia: Serbia / Serbia: Kosovo / Slovakia () / Slovenia (Regionally Extinct) / Spain / Spain: Mainland / Sweden (Irregular Vagrant) / Switzerland / European Türkiye / Ukraine /