Erebia stirius ¦ Styrian Ringlet ¦ euroButterflies

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Erebia stirius

Styrian Ringlet

euroButterflies

by Matt Rowlings

Triglav, Slovenia, August 2014

Male.

Triglav, Slovenia, August 2014

Female.

Field notes and information

A butterfly of the eastern Alps. It is very similar to the Stygian ringlet E. styx.

Identification & Similar species: A medium sized Erebia with extensive orange on the underside forewing and bold orange markgins on the upperside. The underside hindwings are heavily mottled and dark brown in the males and lighter grey or brown in the females. This should separate it from most other Erebias with which it flies.

It is very similar to the Stygian ringlet E. styx. Both species fly together over much of their range, but that species can be found further west and the current species further east. Separation is by the presence or absence of a dark notch in space s1b of the underside forewing orange band. This notch is only present in the current species. See photos.

Distribution & Flight: It range starts just east of Switzerland in N Italy and Austria. Then throughout the Alps eastwards through Slovenia and just into Croatia. The western part of its range overlaps with that of the Stygian ringlet E. styx eastwards into western Slovenia.

Flies in July and August, variable according to location and season.

Habitat & Behaviour: Steep rocky slopes and screes. Attracted to flowers and meadowland that may border the steep slopes and otherwise inaccessible habitat.