- Family: Satyridae
- Scientific name: Chazara briseis (Linnaeus 1764)
- English common name: The Hermit
- Spanish common name: Banda oblicua
Soft beige and mottled brown colouring affords the The Hermit – Chazara briseis – Banda oblicua 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.
- 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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