21997_female_Hautes-Alpes_12Jul10
Blind Ringlet (Erebia pharte)
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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| 21993_male_Hautes-Alpes_12Jul10 | 22041_male_Hautes-Alpes_13Jul10 | 22046_male_Hautes-Alpes_13Jul10 |
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21997_female_Hautes-Alpes_12Jul10 |
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A relatively small and uncommon Erebia which I have seen only in two locations, although at the site in the Hautes-Alpes they were fairly abundant locally in 2010. It is generally found at high altitudes, and Lafranchis gives the usual lower limit as 1400m. It is distinguishable from many of its close relatives by the red post-discal band, usually complete on all four wing surfaces, all red spots without ocelli, even minute pinpricks. |
The form phartina (no, I'm not making it up, this really is the scientific name) is darker and with the upf and uph red post-discal bands reduced to discrete red marks, and occurs above 1800m across the full distribution range. |
| ref | sex |
observations |
alt. m |
| 21993 | M |
a male, quite worn. |
1990 |
| 22041 | M |
a male, with a red upf post-discal band that is largely continuous, compared to 21993's series of discrete red spots. |
1990 |
| 22046 | M |
a male, the red upf post-discal band being almost vestigial. I believe that this is the form phartina, even though it was flying in company with the nominate form. |
1990 |
| 21997 | F |
a female, clearly from what is visible of the body shape. |
1990 |
21993_male_Hautes-Alpes_12Jul10
22041_male_Hautes-Alpes_13Jul10
22046_male_Hautes-Alpes_13Jul10
21997_female_Hautes-Alpes_12Jul10
