Dryad

Minois dryas

Female, Switzerland, July 2008

Male, Switzerland, July 2008

Male, Switzerland, July 2008

Female underside (video frame)

Female upperside (video frame)

This is one of the more beautiful satyrids. The female is a huge, brown butterfly, with very striking blue-pupilled spots on both upperside and underside. The male is similar but generally smaller and more toned down. It flies late in the year - usually from the end of July - in meadows, usually adjoining woods. Generally regarded as rather scarce, this is a relatively common (locally) butterfly in my part of Switzerland.