Berberia abdelkader explained

Berberia abdelkader, the giant grayling, is a species of butterfly in the family Nymphalidae.^[1] It is endemic to the North African region, mainly Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. It flies in the vast steppes and the males are easily seen flying in search of a shy female. Usually, females are fertilised as soon as they hatch.

Subspecies

There are three subspecies of Berberia abdelkader:

• B. a. abdelkader - (Col du Jerada and Oujda in eastern Morocco, Algeria, western Libya
• B. a. nelvai (Seitz, 1911) (Aurès Mountains of Algeria, Moularès Mines of Tunisia)
• B. a. taghzefti (Wyatt, 1952) - (Taghzeft Pass in Morocco)

Flight period

June to October, depending on altitude and locality.

Food plants

Larvae have been recorded on Stipa tenacissima.

References

• Satyrinae of the Western Palearctic
• Michel Tarrier.es: Berberia abdelkader
• Tennent, John, 1996; The Butterflies of Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia;

Notes and References

1. http://ftp.funet.fi/pub/sci/bio/life/insecta/lepidoptera/ditrysia/papilionoidea/nymphalidae/satyrinae/berberia/ "Berberia de Lesse, 1951"