Erebia for ID

[David M]

Seen at 2,400m on a col south of Briançon (one that Roger G knows well).

I had already seen aethiopella and thought this was probably another but it looked a little bigger in flight. I managed to drop my plastic vial over it and it has puzzled me ever since. I have never seen aethiopella without ocelli, on both ups and uns, but this specimen is 'blind'.

Any suggestions would be most welcome.

[Padfield]

Aethiopella has a named form, caeca, which is blind. The upperside hindwing of your butterfly has quite a lot of orange - more than mnestra or gorge - and the underside matches aethiopella best. So that's what I'd go for: E. aethiopella f. caeca. As ever, I'm quite happy to be overruled!

Guy

[Roger Gibbons]

By coincidence, I have seen aethiopella this afternoon with and without ocelli, at the same location.

I think I got scipio today, only a distance shot but I think enough to confirm it.

I am in Briançon at the moment and will be visiting the aforesaid Col tomorrow, hoping that glacialis will put in a photogenic appearance.

Roger

[David M]

Thanks, both, as ever.

The undersides were redolent of aethiopella so it's not surprising to learn of your joint pronouncements, especially as I'd seen a 'normal' False Mnestra just a few minutes before.

Always extremely useful to pick up on these tips, just like last year with the calliopsis form of Idas Blue, which had me thinking at first that I'd seen Reverdin's.

Roger - interesting to read about scipio. I was in the vicinity of its namesake col but didn't venture up there as I thought it was too early. Wish I'd given it a go now!!