''Pseudochazara cingovskii'', the Macedonian grayling, is a species of

butterfly Butterflies are insects in the macrolepidopteran clade Rhopalocera from the Order (biology), order Lepidoptera, which also includes moths. Adult butterflies have large, often brightly coloured wings, and conspicuous, fluttering flight. The ...

in the family Nymphalidae. It is found only in the

North Macedonian North Macedonia, ; sq, Maqedonia e Veriut, (Macedonia before February 2019), officially the Republic of North Macedonia,, is a country in Southeast Europe. It gained independence in 1991 as one of the successor states of Socialist Feder ...

village of

Pletvar Pletvar is a village in Municipality of Prilep, North Macedonia. The critically endangered Macedonian grayling butterfly is only found in the Pletvar area. Demographics According to the 2002 census, the village had a total of 22 inhabitants. Et ...

. The males are a little smaller than the females. It is a cool pale grey brown, the upperside bands being particularly noticeable. Its habitat is scattered with white limestone rocks and when at rest on the white limestone, it is very difficult to notice it due to its very pale underside. The Macedonian Grayling is facing endangerment due to marble quarrying occurring in its habitat. This endemic species is the most threatened butterfly species in Europe, and active conservation efforts are vital for sustaining a healthy population size.

Flight period

The species is univoltine and is on wing from late June to July depending on altitude.

Food plants

Macedonian Grayling (Pseudochazara cingovskii)

Larvae have been reared on grasses.

References

Species info"''Pseudochazara'' de Lesse, 1951"
at Markku Savela's ''Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms'' *''Butterflies of Europe'', Tom Tolman, 1997, Princeton University Press

External links

Satyrinae of the Western Palearctic - ''Pseudochazara cingovskii''
Cingovskii Endemic fauna of North Macedonia Butterflies described in 1973 Butterflies of Europe {{Satyrini-stub