---
title: "Grayling (Hipparchia semele) · Rampant Scotland"
description: "Graphics via Wikimedia The Grayling occur in coastal areas of northeast Scotland such as the RSPB Fowlsheugh Nature Reserve in Aberdeenshire. The species is oft"
canonical: "https://rampant-scotland.pages.dev/butterflies/butterfly_grayling.htm"
last-updated: "2026-11-11"
date-basis: "git-content-change"
---

# Grayling (Hipparchia semele) · Rampant Scotland

Butterflies of Scotland

# Grayling (Hipparchia semele)

[Original page](https://web.archive.org/web/20200712055530/http://www.rampantscotland.com:80/butterflies/butterfly_grayling.htm)

Restored from the raw archived page capture: original scripts, advertisements and shared site navigation removed. Original wording, photographs and layout order preserved.

Grayling
Graphics via [Wikimedia](http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Main_Page)

>

The Grayling occur in coastal areas of northeast Scotland such as the RSPB Fowlsheugh Nature Reserve in Aberdeenshire. The species is often associated with bare ground and rocky hills and is widespread on the coast of Britain and dry heathland, old quarries, earthworks, derelict old spoil heaps and open woodland on stony ground.

The Grayling is a master of camouflage. The undersides of its wings make it almost impossible to see when at rest on stone, bare ground or tree trunks. It rarely opens its wings when resting or feeding it keeps its wings closed and the eyespot is generally kept concealed. However, when alarmed, the Grayling will flick its wings revealing the eyespot. A predator attacking the butterfly is either startled by the sudden appearance of the pattern, or enticed into attacking the conspicuous spot rather than the butterfly's body

The Grayling has suffered from a loss of habitat, with a consequent drop in numbers. As a result, the Grayling is a priority species for conservation.

**Return to the Butterfly [Index](https://web.archive.org/web/20200712055530/http://www.rampantscotland.com:80/butterflies/index.htm)

or go to the next Butterfly: [Green Hairstreak](https://rampant-scotland.pages.dev/butterflies/butterfly_green_hairstreak.htm)**.

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## Source

From Rampant Scotland, restored from the page as it stood on 12 July 2020. [Original page](https://web.archive.org/web/20200712055530/http://www.rampantscotland.com:80/butterflies/butterfly_grayling.htm).

Links to pages not yet restored here lead to the original page or elsewhere on the web; 1 of 3 links on this page are restored on this site.