21938_male_Hautes-Alpes_11Jul10
False Mnestra Ringlet (Erebia aethiopella)
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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| 26995_male_Hautes-Alpes_12Jul11 |
21938_male_Hautes-Alpes_11Jul10 |
21930_male_Hautes-Alpes_11Jul10 |
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| 22003_male_Hautes-Alpes_12Jul10 |
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A small and rather rare Erebia of high altitudes. It is unusual in that it is the only butterfly solely endemic to the southern Alpes. With the benefit of an upperside and an underside shot, it can be identified with some degree of certainty from it close cousins. |
I chanced upon it for the first time in 2010, two males in a high damp gulley in the Hautes-Alpes. In 2011 I found it in three locations, one being the 2010 locations, the other two being over 2350m. The lower end of its altitude range is 1800m. |
| ref | sex |
observations |
alt. m |
| 26995 | M | a male, posing very obligingly. | 2010 |
| 21938 | M |
a male, taking a break from taking salt from some indeterminate substance to enjoy some sun and very thoughtfully posing open for the camera. |
2010 |
| 21930 | M |
a male, taking salts from some unhealthy-looking crotte. The unh post-discal band is virtually non-existent c.f. 22003 and the illustration in T&L where this band is quite clearly contrasted. |
2010 |
| 22003 | M |
a male, not the same as 21930 as can be seen from the rather stronger unh post-discal band here. A Grisons Fritillary (Mellicta varia) can just be seen on the left. |
2010 |
26995_male_Hautes-Alpes_12Jul11
21938_male_Hautes-Alpes_11Jul10
21930_male_Hautes-Alpes_11Jul10
22003_male_Hautes-Alpes_12Jul10
