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Field Notes

Alpes de Haute Provence, France, August 2005

Tired specimens at low altitude (1400m) in early August.

Alpes de Haute Provence, France, August 2005

Alpes de Haute Provence, France, August 2005

Alpes de Haute Provence, France, August 2005

NW Italy, August 2001

Female feeding

NW Italy, August 2001

Female, glimpse of upperside

NW Italy, August 2001

Female. Unusual pale gray underside is shown to be cryptic.

A very local species that is only found in a small region in the Alps of SE France, just extending into NW Italy. The key to me finding this species was a knowledge that its habitat is scree covered limestone slopes. The English name Larche Ringlet led me to look at the Col de Larche, a high pass between Italy and France. A precipitous climb to some screes led me to this species. It had taken me so long to climb up that I'd run out of time so I snatched these few photographs in the 20 minutes I had - I later got into trouble as my descent took even longer than the ascent!

Males and females were gliding effortlessly up and down the steep slopes along with other species of Erebia. The steepness was such that it was impossible to chase the butterflies. If they landed nearby, that was the only chance of photography, or even identification. It was so hot that they wouldn't settle for long. All this combined led to few quality photographs and unfortunately I didn't film any of the males.

The females are highly unusual in the genus Erebia. Their pale gray underside is unique. Until I'd seen it in its habitat I didn't appreciate that it gives the butterfly a good advantage when sitting on the hottest rocks - a closely similar shade of gray. The males don't share this underside, following the typical dark brown format of this genus.

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