The bright eyed ringlet (''Erebia oeme'') is a member of the

Satyridae 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 dive ...

subfamily of

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

Pyrenees The Pyrenees (; es, Pirineos ; french: Pyrénées ; ca, Pirineu ; eu, Pirinioak ; oc, Pirenèus ; an, Pirineus) is a mountain range straddling the border of France and Spain. It extends nearly from its union with the Cantabrian Mountains to C ...

Massif Central The (; oc, Massís Central, ; literally ''"Central Massif"'') is a highland region in south-central France, consisting of mountains and plateaus. It covers about 15% of mainland France. Subject to volcanism that has subsided in the last 10,00 ...

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 ...

and

Balkan The Balkans ( ), also known as the Balkan Peninsula, is a geographical area in southeastern Europe with various geographical and historical definitions. The region takes its name from the Balkan Mountains that stretch throughout the who ...

mountains. It has recently been confirmed to occur in the southern chain of the Carpathians. The length of the forewings is 28–36 mm.

Description in Seitz

''E. oeme'' Hbn. (35 g). Variable in size, usually somewhat smaller than ''

medusa In Greek mythology, Medusa (; Ancient Greek: Μέδουσα "guardian, protectress"), also called Gorgo, was one of the three monstrous Gorgons, generally described as winged human females with living venomous snakes in place of hair. Those ...

'', the wings more elongate. On the forewing there is near the apex a russet -yellow, sometimes divided spot which bears two white-centred black ocelli. The hindwing has distally 2-4 white-centred ocelli which are edged with russet -yellow. Underside grey-brown, markings as above. The female, which is usually somewhat larger, is lighter, the ocelli being larger and more prominent than in the male ; the hindwing beneath yellowish grey. Widely distributed over the Alps, but sporadic, occurring especially on limestone, being usually not rare on the flight-places. — ab. ''lugens'' Stgr. is a smaller form in which the forewing is uniformly black-brown above ; on the underside the ocelli below the costa are always separated. In the Gadmen Valley in Western Switzerland. — ''spodia'' Stgr. (35 g) is mostly somewhat larger than ''oeme'', the fore- and hindwings have a complete distal band, the ocelli are larger and conspicuously centred with white. Transitions towards nametypical ''oeme'' are not rare. This is the form of the Eastern Alps and the Balcan. — Egg (of the form ''spodia'') round, glabrous, glossy white. Larva similar to the larva of medusa in shape and markings, not being green however, but pale clayish, with brownish longitudinal lines; each ring is crossed by a transverse line composed of 4 black united spots; above the legs a chocolate-brown side-stripe. On ''Luzula''-species. Pupa pale yellow, the sheaths of the eyes, tongue and wings edged with brown (Rogenhofer). The butterfly in June and July.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) Adults are on wing from June to August in one generation. The larvae feed on various grasses, including ''

Poa alpina ''Poa alpina'', commonly known as alpine meadow-grass or alpine bluegrass, is a species of grass with a primarily holarctic distribution. It is noted for being pseudoviviparous: in place of seeds, it sometimes reproduces asexually, creating ne ...

'', ''

Poa pratensis ''Poa pratensis'', commonly known as Kentucky bluegrass (or blue grass), smooth meadow-grass, or common meadow-grass, is a perennial species of grass native to practically all of Europe, North Asia and the mountains of Algeria and Morocco. Altho ...

'', ''

Poa nemoralis ''Poa nemoralis'', the wood bluegrass, is a perennial plant in the family Poaceae. The late-growing grass is fairly nutritious for livestock, which feed on it in the autumn, and it is used as a lawn grass for shady situations. Description It fo ...

'', ''

Festuca rubra ''Festuca rubra'' is a species of grass known by the common name red fescue or creeping red fescue. It is widespread across much of the Northern Hemisphere and can tolerate many habitats and climates. It is best adapted to well-drained soils in c ...

'', '' Carex flacca'', '' Carex sempervirens'', ''

Briza media ''Briza media'' is a perennial grass in the family Poaceae and is a species of the genus ''Briza''. Common name includes quaking-grass, common quaking grass, cow-quake, didder, dithering-grass, dodder-grass, doddering dillies, doddle-grass, eart ...

'' and ''

Molinia caerulea ''Molinia caerulea'', known by the common name purple moor-grass, is a species of grass that is native to Europe, west Asia, and north Africa. It grows in locations from the lowlands up to in the Alps. Like most grasses, it grows best in acid so ...

''.

Footnotes

References

* (2010). Biogeography, ecology and conservation of Erebia oeme (Hübner) in the Carpathians (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Satyrinae). Ann. soc. entomol. Fr., 46(3-4), 486-498.

External links

Butterflies of Bulgarialepiforum.deschmetterlinge-deutschlands.deFauna Europaea
Erebia Butterflies described in 1804 Butterflies of Europe {{Satyrini-stub