A website dedicated to European Butterflies

Contact Me
Matt Rowlings

Photos: explicit permission must be obtained from Matt Rowlings for any use of any images from eurobutterflies.com.

Mail me to receive
"What's New" Update
e-mails

Erebia tyndarus

Swiss Brassy Ringlet

Field Notes

Valais, Switzerland, July 2006

Valais, Switzerland, July 2006

Valais, Switzerland, July 2006

Valais, Switzerland, July 2006

Valais, Switzerland, July 2006

Valais, Switzerland, July 2006

Valais, Switzerland, July 2006

Valais, Switzerland, July 2006

Valais, Switzerland, July 2006

Valais, Switzerland, August 2004

Valais, Switzerland, July 2005

Valais, Switzerland, August 2004

Valais, Switzerland, August 2004

Valais, Switzerland, July 2005

Valais, Switzerland, July 2005

I think this is the same butterfly as the previous one. It is another example of
a "blind" tyndarus, not to be mistaken for E. mnestra.

Valais, Switzerland, July 2005

Valais, Switzerland, July 2005

Valais, Switzerland, August 2004

Valais, Switzerland, August 2004

Valais, Switzerland, June 2003

Spotless form found occasionally in central Valais, Switzerland.
Previously incorrectly identified as Mnestra's Ringlet, E. mnestra.

Valais, Switzerland, June 2003

Same butterfly, even more glossy brassy sheen indicating a Brassy Ringlet.

Grisons, Switzerland, July 2003

Grisons, Switzerland, July 2003

Grisons, Switzerland, July 2003

Grisons, Switzerland, July 2003

Grisons, Switzerland, July 2003

This is one of the six Brassy Ringlets. It flies across southern Switzerland and neighbouring northern Italy where it is often very common. It doesn't overlap very much with the other Brassy Ringlets - Common Brassy (E. cassioides) to the east and west, De Lesse's Brassy (E. nivalis) to the east and around Grindelwald in central Switzerland.

Apart from distribution (which is by far the most useful feature) the principal differences between these species are:

tyndarus - upper forewings extensive orange band, particularly in the male. Upper hindwings largely unmarked in both sexes. Underside hindwing has relatively more developed sub marginal lobes relative to same sex in cassioides.

cassioides - upper forewings orange band less bright and, in the male, much less extensive. Upper hindwings with orange markings containing black ocelli often with white centres. Sub marginal lobes on underside hindwing reduced in male and nearly absent in female.

nivalis - differs from tyndarus in similar ways to cassioides except the female has much better developed underside sub marginal lobes. It differs from cassioides in the male which has more extensive upperside hindwing orange marks and the forewing which has definite orange marks extending towards the cell. The female has a distinct marbled appearance and dark red on the underside forewing.

TOP