Woodland Ringlet (Erebia medusa)

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2011 photos highlighted in green. Click on any photo to go to an enlarged picture, or simply scroll down the page.

20524_male_Doubs_1Jun10 15710_female_Doubs_03May09 15786_pair_Doubs_04Jun09

Medusa is a butterfly of eastern France, not occurring in the south, so I have little experience of it, having seen it only in two locations, the first near Beaune in eastern France, and again this year in the wetlands of the Jura where it was quite common. It has an almost complete set of ocelli on both the upperside and underside.

The only possible species it could be confused with in France is the Almond-eyed Ringlet (E. alberganus) which is an altitude specialist, and even then the ocelli of medusa are much better developed and rounded with strong white centres.
ref sex

observations

alt. m
20524 M

probably a male, based on body shape.

860
15710 F

a female, difficult to photograph as it settled in low dense vegetation.

860
15786 PAIR

a mating pair, female above.

860

 

20524_male_Doubs_1Jun10

 

15710_female_Doubs_03May09

 

15786_pair_Doubs_04Jun09