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Here are the first Erebia-specific questions. The first is likely alberganus, but I'm not quite sure - there seems to be something atypical in the markings. The second and third are the same butterfly and the only one in this thread that is NOT from Mallnitz. It's from Germany just across border from Salzburg. Is it ligea or euryale? The size was more ligea, but the markings seem to be euryale. The height was roughly 500m and it was deep in the woods ... with camilla as a neighbor.

Oddly enough, I too have been surrounded by both these species lately.

I'll go for ligea for the 2nd/3rd due to the white marking at the top of the unh.

You are probably right, though the form with small spots was supposed to be in Scandinavia, wasn't it?

JKT wrote:You are probably right, though the form with small spots was supposed to be in Scandinavia, wasn't it?

Of the many dozens I saw, I noticed that the extent of the white underside patch was highly variable, ranging from a small blotch to a sizeable streak.

Sorry, I meant the black spots in forewing upper side. This one doesn't seem to have any white in them.

The rest I can't name with reasonable certainty. They are probably all E. oemes. The first two are of the same one.

Hi JKT,

I must have dreamt I'd replied to this thread!

The first picture seems to be euryale (definitely not alberganus). I'd like to see an underside before claiming 100% on this, but that's how it would appear in my diary if I'd taken that photo!

I agree with David the next ones are ligea. The ecological information confirms this, though I think the pictures are unambiguous.

Finally, the last pictures all show oeme.

It's not easy to photograph Erebia - good job!

Guy

No underside I'm afraid. Thanks for the IDs and confirmation ... and compliments! I have to say it is more about post processing RAWs than anything else. The original JPG:s are rather horrible.

Edit: The chequered fringes! I must be blind.


If I'm right and the attached picture is E. eriphyle, the total list of Erebias is: alberganus, claudina, eriphyle, euryale, gorge, ligea, oeme and pandrose. Theoretically I could go through a bunch of undersides in the hopes of finding something else among the last, but I think I'll pass.

My intuition on that last one is manto, JKT. I presume you don't have an underside ...

Guy

Oh, well. At least the species count didn't change.

It was only an intuition ... I'm out checking my local eriphyle today, so if I get a picture we can compare! There's something immediate about your butterfly that made me think manto as soon as I saw it. I could be wrong.

Guy

Somehow it sounds more plausible that I'm the one who got it wrong.

Oh well, I might just as well add the last.

The first three are likely E. euryales, the next two E. oemes and the last E. claudina is here to tease you.

In the end, these are way easier than Pyrgus or Melitaea.