The Eriphyle ringlet (''Erebia eriphyle'') is a member of the subfamily

Satyrinae The Satyrinae, the satyrines or satyrids, commonly known as the browns, are a subfamily of the Nymphalidae (brush-footed butterflies). They were formerly considered a distinct family, Satyridae. This group contains nearly half of the known divers ...

of family

Nymphalidae The Nymphalidae are the largest family of butterflies, with more than 6,000 species distributed throughout most of the world. Belonging to the superfamily Papilionoidea, they are usually medium-sized to large butterflies. Most species have a red ...

. It is a high mountain butterfly found in the

Alps The Alps () ; german: Alpen ; it, Alpi ; rm, Alps ; sl, Alpe . are the highest and most extensive mountain range system that lies entirely in Europe, stretching approximately across seven Alpine countries (from west to east): France, Sw ...

Description in Seitz

''E. eriphyle'' Frr. (36 c). This ''Erebia'' which is very close to ''

melampus In Greek mythology, Melampus (; grc, Μελάμπους, ''Melampous'') was a legendary soothsayer and healer, originally of Pylos, who ruled at Argos. He was the introducer of the worship of Dionysus, according to Herodotus, who asserted th ...

'' was formerly considered to be only a variety of the latter, but is constantly different. The distal band of the forewing is more or less reddish brown, sometimes brown-yellow, being separated by the veins into several elongate, distally rounded spots. The number of these spots is variable, there being usually 5, sometimes only 3-4. The 2 spots placed close to the outer margin bear small black dots. On the hindwing there are 3 - 4 red-brown or brownish spots of which the one near the median vein in cellule 4 is placed a little more basad, being always larger and more elongate, while in melampusi it is never larger than the other spots of the hindwing. The shape and position of this spot and the absence of black centres are the main characters of ''eriphyle'', which moreover is distinctly larger than melampus. Beneath the band of the forewing is lighter than above, being ochre-yellow in many specimens ; the spots of the hindwing are of the same colour, being much more prominent than above. In the female the ground-colour paler, the underside yellowish brown, band and spots less distinct than in the male. The distal margin of the male somewhat paler than the ground, brownish grey in the female. Antenna black-brown above, white-grey beneath. — An inhabitant of the Alps, prefers limestone, and occurs in July and August at altitudes of from 900 to 2200 m. — ab. ''impunctata'' Hofn. differs in the spots of both wings being larger and in the band of the forewing bearing no black dots. — In ab. ''tristis'' H.Schiff., from Graubunden and the Alps of Schwyz, the marginal band of the forewing is brighter in colour and the disc of the hindwing beneath has a reddish flush. — ab. ''intermedia'' Frey, from Carinthia, has more distinct reddish yellow spots, also on the hindwing.Eiffinger, G. in Seitz. A. ed. Band 1: Abt. 1, ''Die Großschmetterlinge des palaearktischen Faunengebietes, Die palaearktischen Tagfalter'', 1909, 379 Seiten, mit 89 kolorierten Tafeln (3470 Figuren)

References

Erebia Butterflies of Europe Butterflies described in 1836 Taxa named by Christian Friedrich Freyer {{Satyrini-stub