Rila Mts, Bulgaria, July 2004
Rila Mts, Bulgaria, July 2004
Field notes and information
A delightful species. It is restricted to a few mountains in Serbia and Bulgaria. Where found it is quite common.
Identification & Similar species: It is quite a distinctive Erebia having unusual streaks of orange radiating outwards from the cell on the upper forewing. I note however that this streak is faintly present on the form spodia of the bright-eyed ringletE. oeme which shares the same habitats in certain places. It also has a rather pointed forewing.
Distribution & Flight: Only from a few mountains in Serbia and Bulgaria. June/ July.
Habitat & Behaviour: Open grassy places, at or just above the tree line. Females rarely observed. This may have been caused by their very laboured flight. In fact they were barely capable of flapping a short distance over the grass before crashing and hanging from a plant stem.
SE Serbia, June 2012
Females have a greyish hindwing.
SE Serbia, June 2012
Habitat shared with eastern large heath Coenonympha rhodopensis.
Rila Mts, Bulgaria, July 2004
Female.
Rila Mts, Bulgaria, July 2004
SE Serbia, June 2012