Wednesday, 15 February 2012
Mountain Ringlet Butterfly
Scientific Name:
Erebia epiphron
Also Known As:
Small Mountain Ringlet
Wingspan (mm):
Male: 32 - 40mm, Female: 32 - 42mm Description
A dark brown butterfly with row of black-centred orange eyespots on wings. Similar to Scotch Argus, which has white dots in the eyespots. The adults are highly active only in bright sunshine but can be disturbed from the ground even in quite dull weather. They keep low to the ground in short flights, pausing regularly to bask amongst grass tussocks or feed on the yellow flowers of Tormentil.
Distribution
The Mountain Ringlet is our only true montane species and is found on mountains above 350m amidst the spectacular scenery of the Scottish Highlands and the English Lake District.
Habitat
The Mountain Ringlet is found in open mountain grassland dominated by Mat-grass and Heath Bedstraw. The butterfly occurs mainly at altitudes of 500-700m in the Lake District and 350-900m in Scotland (in some years it is seen as low as 70m and as high as 1000m). Adults tend to concentrate in damper areas and sometimes in flushes dominated by sedges, but they occur also in drier, heathy areas characterized by Bilberry and Wavy Hair-grass. In Scotland, the butterfly favours south facing slopes but a variety of aspects is used in the Lake District, including some north facing slopes.
Diet
The main foodplant is believed to be Mat-grass, but the full range is not known. Recent observations suggest a possible association with Sheep's-fescue.
Status
UK BAP status: Priority Species Butterfly Conservation priority: high European threat status: not threatened Protected in Great Britain for sale only