A small butterfly common in the Middle East from Turkey to Israel. In Israel it is common in the mountain ridge, in the northern valleys, in the Galilee, on the Golan, and in Mount Hermon, near bodies of water. It flies from the beginning of spring until the end of summer (March to November). Its wingspan is about 30 mm. Its color is black-gray speckled with white. Its identifying mark is a white stripe crossing its hindwing on the underside. It produces several generations a year.
The female lays her eggs on the holy bramble (hence the dependence on water). The egg is greenish.
From the egg hatches a hairy, greenish larva with a black head. For protection, the larva spins itself a shelter inside the leaf. When it reaches a size of about 20 mm, it pupates inside the folded leaf.
The pupa is about 15 mm long. It is brown and covered with a sparse white powder. Its period lasts about two to three weeks.

Previous name: Eastern skimmer