Berberia abdelkader

Berberia abdelkader, the giant grayling, is a species of butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. 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 <small>(Seitz, 1911)</small> (Aurès Mountains of Algeria, Moularès Mines of Tunisia)
• B. a. taghzefti <small>(Wyatt, 1952)</small> - (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;