This Erebia has an unusual distribution for
the genus. Its principle range is in the southern Balkans but it has
small well separated out flung populations northwards to the Massif
Central of France. I've found it in Greece and Bulgaria on mid to high
mountains but in mid July it was
widespread but not that common on many mountains. In the very early
season of 2003 I found only 3 specimens in the Massif
Central, France (not counting the dead one in the restaurant) in mid
July. The photos above from the Massif Central are of
these butterflies which are of the subspecies tardenota.