Kingdom Animalia Class Insecta Family Nymphalidae Scientific name Erebia montana | Phylum Arthropoda Order Lepidoptera Genus Erebia Rank Species | |
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Similar Erebia melampus, Sooty ringlet, Erebia alberganus, Mnestra's ringlet, Erebia nivalis | ||
The marbled ringlet (Erebia montana) is a member of the Satyrinae subfamily of Nymphalidae.
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Distribution and habitat
This species is present in Austria, France, Italy, Liechtenstein and Switzerland. These high mountain butterflies can be found on warm, rocky slopes, woodland clearings and flower-rich grasslands in the Alps from the Ligurian Alps and the French Alps to the Tyrol and the Dolomites, the Apuan Alps and in the northern and middle Apennines, at an elevation of 1,100–2,500 metres (3,600–8,200 ft) above sea level.
Description
Erebia montana has a wingspan of 44–50 millimetres (1.7–2.0 in). These small dark brown butterflies show a broad bright orange postdiscal band with two oval white pupils at the apex of the forewings and one or two others not very visible, as well as a series of three or four ocelli on the upperside of the hindwings. The underside of the forewings is red brown with two ocelli at the apex and a wavy edge, while the underside of the hindwings is marbled chestnut-brown (hence the common name) with well marked whitish veins.
This species is rather similar to Erebia stirius, Erebia styx and Erebia pronoe.
Biology
This species is univoltine. The caterpillars overwinter in the first larval instar. In Spring they feed on grasses, mainly Festuca species and Nardus stricta. They pupate in June or July. Adults fly from July to September. They frequently settle on stones or on the ground, but they also visit regularly flowers feeding on nectar.