Interestingly this species may have once occurred in the mountains of Galway and Mayo in Ireland, but is now presumed extinct. It is one of the more widespread Erebia species and can be fairly common in the high mountain ranges of Europe. There are a number of different forms and several similar species, although the number of ocelli and extent of orange banding are useful identification features. I have found it  in the Pyrenees, Alps and Velebit Mts.

Distribution: Patchy, but most of the major mountain ranges from northern Spain, through France towards the Tatras and Carpathian Mountains. Also in Italy, Scotland and northern England.

Flight Period: June-August in 1 brood.

Habitat: Grassy slopes, gullies, marshy hillsides, mountainous meadows with plenty of grass, generally above 1000m, but lower in Britain.

Foodplants: Grasses, primarily Mat Grass (Nardus stricta).

Nectar Sources: Small mountain flowers, such as thistles (Cirsium), hawkweeds (Hieracium), gentians (Gentiana) etc. Occasionally feeds off dung and damp mud.

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