Search

The aim of this study is to elaborate on the prior information about Hipparchia hermioneecology, examine its behaviour and find the habitat preferences of the species in specific study areas. The obtained results contribute to better management and conservation of the species and its habitats in Slovakia. Six types of behaviour were observed, with the exception of courtship dances, mating and perching. The most common types of behaviour observed were flight and food intake. The RDA analysis of behaviour and environmental variables resulted in a positive effect of free substrate and tall-herb vegetation on H. hermioneabundance. The free substrate had a significant positive effect on all types of H. hermionebehaviour. The results of the RDA analysis indicate butterflies’ shrub preference. The notion of shrubs’ presence having a positive effect on the representation of H. hermioneis supported by another data set, according to which shrub vegetation provided ideal conditions for all types of observed behaviour. The abundance and diversity of nectaring plants did not have a statistically significant effect on species representation. Due to the environmental variables, the tree crowns’ significance plays a vital role. The average values are of 50%. The number of H. hermioneindividuals in the study areas increased with the growing number of tree trunks over 20 cm and heights over 3 m and the growing number of caterpillar host plants (Festuca ovina). The data show that Hipparchiahermione butterflies depend more on the spatial and structural arrangement of the forest than on abundance or diversity of the flora in the study areas.