EN

Dils' Grayling

Pseudochazara orestes

DecliningVUEUVUEU

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

Pseudochazara orestes faces severe population decline due to habitat degradation from overgrazing by livestock in its high-altitude meadow habitats. Climate change poses an additional threat as warming temperatures force this cold-adapted butterfly to retreat to increasingly limited suitable elevations. Infrastructure development and tourism pressure in mountain regions further fragment its already restricted range across the Caucasus and adjacent mountain systems.

Threat summary

Habitat

This butterfly inhabits high-altitude alpine and subalpine meadows, typically between 1,500-2,500 meters elevation in mountainous regions. It requires flower-rich grasslands with specific host plants and is particularly associated with steep slopes and rocky outcrops in the Caucasus mountain range.

Shrubland· majorRocky areas· major

Conservation measures underway

Species recovery

Other threatened species in NYMPHALIDAE

Amauris nossimaVU

Amauris nossima

Unknown
Idea electraVU

Idea electra

Unknown
EN

Ideopsis hewitsonii

Unknown
VU

Idea tambusisiana

Unknown

Threatened in Bulgaria

VU

Lepiota echinella

Unknown
VU

Large Tree-chernes

Dendrochernes cyrneus

Unknown
VU

Lesser White-fronted Goose

Anser erythropus

Declining
CR

Cheilosia varnensis

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Dils' Grayling classified as Endangered?
Dils' Grayling is classified as Endangered — facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild — because population numbers are declining steeply and key habitats are under sustained pressure. Pseudochazara orestes faces severe population decline due to habitat degradation from overgrazing by livestock in its high-altitude meadow habitats. Climate change poses an additional threat as warming temperatures force this cold-adapted butterfly to retreat to increasingly limited suitable elevations. Infrastructure development and tourism pressure in mountain regions further fragment its already restricted range across the Caucasus and adjacent mountain systems.
Where does Dils' Grayling live?
Dils' Grayling occurs in Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, and North Macedonia. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Dils' Grayling?
The main threats to Dils' Grayling are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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