Kingdom Animalia Class Insecta Family Nymphalidae Scientific name Erebia melampus | Phylum Arthropoda Order Lepidoptera Genus Erebia Rank Species | |
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Similar Erebia tyndarus, Sooty ringlet, Erebia alberganus, Erebia pharte, Mnestra's ringlet | ||
Erebia melampus moir des p turins femelle butine grande astrance
Erebia melampus (lesser mountain ringlet) is a member of the Satyrinae subfamily of Nymphalidae.
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Distribution and habitat
This European endemic species occurs in the Alps from the Maritime Alps to East Austria (France, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Switzerland and Austria). It prefers grassy places, in woodland or in open areas, at an elevation of 800–2,400 metres (2,600–7,900 ft) above sea level.
Description
The wingspan is 30–36 mm. These small butterflies have brown wings. Forewings show a postmedian band of orange oval to round markings containing small black spots. Hindwings have three or four postdiscal eyspots.
Biology
Adults are on wing from July to September. The larvae feed on various Festuca and Poa species (Poa annua, Poa nemoralis, Festuca ovina), as well as Anthoxanthum odoratum.