Alpine Heath (Coenonympha gardetta)
2011 photos highlighted in green. Click on any photo to go to an enlarged picture, or simply scroll down the page.
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| 12180_sex?_Hautes-Alpes_8Jul08 | 12194_sex?_Hautes-Alpes_8Jul08 | 13427_sex?_Valais, Switzerland_20Jul08 |
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| 17740_sex?_Hautes-Alpes_10Jul09 | 21947_sex?_Hautes-Alpes_11Jul10 |
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Gardetta is an altitude specialist occurring mostly at altitudes over 1500m, and although I have usually encountered it only in small numbers, occasionally it is very common above 2000m. It is relatively easy to identify, in France at least, because the bold black rings are all inside the white band. |
It has the characteristic silver unh submarginal band most apparent in fresh specimens. There is, however, scope for confusion between gardetta and Darwin's Heath (C. darwiniana) and the key differences are addressed on the darwiniana page. |
| ref | sex |
observations |
alt. m |
| 12180 | ? |
the unh is quite orange except in the basal area, the unf is quite a warm orange not quite extending to the apex. |
1990 |
| 12194 | ? |
mildly orange but not warm, the white band is narrow and dentate and the ocelli are ringed yellow. |
1990 |
| 13427 | ? |
very similar to 12180, maybe not quite as orange. |
2200 |
| 17740 | ? |
this, in my opinion, is classic gardetta. The ocelli are large and strongly black, the ocelli are all nicely within the white band, and the unh ground colour is dark greyish. |
2100 |
| 21947 | ? |
a strong warm brown-orange colour for the unf, showing how gardetta can be very appealing when fresh. |
2010 |
12180_sex?_Hautes-Alpes_8Jul08
12194_sex?_Hautes-Alpes_8Jul08
13427_sex?_Valais, Switzerland_20Jul08
17740_sex?_Hautes-Alpes_10Jul09
21947_sex?_Hautes-Alpes_11Jul10
