Lasiommata maera (Linnaeus, 1758)

Host plants:
The caterpilalr feeds on grasses (Poaceae) like Brachypodium pinnatum, Bromus erectus, Melica and Festuca.

Habitat:
Lasiommata maera inhabits mountainous grasslands near forests, rocky slopes, alpine meadows in the forest zone, clearcuttings, and occasionally quarries (in the lowlands).

Life cycle:
Usually, a single generation is formed. In the lowlands apparently occurs also a partial second generation. The adult flies usually in June/July in elevations of about 600m above sea level (in the Alps also in August). When there are two generations, you may expect adults between May and September. Eggs are deposited on grass blades at tree trunk bases, rocks, on the edge of open spots etc. The winter is usually passed as an L3.

Endangerment: regionally endangered or decreasing

Endangerment factors:
This species is in strong decline especially in the lowlands due to darkening processes in the forests. Near Memmingen (Southern Germany), where I observed sometimes very abundant populations in many forests around 1988-1990, it is nowadays extinct since the grassy fringes and clearings have almost vanished and the remaining suffer from eutrophication and still denser afforestation. The butterfly is still more common only in regions with denser occurrence of rocky grasslands near forests as the Swabian Alb or of forest gap systems like the entire Alpine region.

Remarks:
The distribution ranges from Northwest Africa across Europe and temperate Asia to Siberia.