Scolitantides baton (Bergsträsser, 1779)

Host plants:
The larva feeds mostly on Thymus species. Eggs are usually deposited on flower buds. In the Mediterranean, also other Lamiaceae species are used.

Habitat:
Scolitantides baton settles in central Europe especially warm, usually grazed grasslands with varying, mostly sparse vegetation cover. In the western Mediterranean, Scolitantides baton is quite common in the maquis and open forests with Thymus vulgaris and other Lamiaceae.

Life cycle:
Scolitantides baton forms usually only a single generation in central Europe, more rarely also a partial second generation. The adults fly mostly in June, but also sooner or later (May to August).
There are different hints for hibernation strategy in literature (larvae or pupae hibernating). According to own observations and judging from the larva that is consuming flowers and fruits I am of the opinion that usually the pupa hibernates.

In the Mediterranean, several generations from March to September are observed. But most adults occur in April and May so that following generations are very incomplete due to summer drought.

Endangerment: threatened with extinction

Endangerment factors:
Scolitantides baton is threatened north of the Alps by qualitative and quantitative decline in grasslands (abandonment of extensive grazing or late start of grazing in the season, succession/overgrowth, overbuilding, nutrient accumulation) and the reduction of thyme, which is usually depenent on rupicolous, gappy structures and does not tolerate dense grass stands.
In the south, Scolitantides baton is much less endangered and locally common.

Remarks:
Scolitantides baton varies greatly in abundance and may also rarely occur more common, such as in 2004 in the Donaumoos near Leipheim (southwest Bavaria), where several dozen butterflies were observed simultaneously.

Scolitantides baton is distributed from the Iberian Peninsula across France and central Europe and is also found in most of Italy. To the east (starting from NE-Italy and E-Germany), Scolitantides baton is replaced by the taxon vicrama.