Female, Switzerland, May 2017
Male, Switzerland, April 2017
Mating pair, female on left, Switzerland, May 2017
Male, Switzerland, April 2014
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Switzerland, April 2014
Switzerland, April 2014
Switzerland, April 2014
Switzerland, April 2014 (count the wings carefully ...)
Male, Switzerland, April 2014
Male, Switzerland, April 2016
Switzerland, May 2005
Close-up of spots near apex of forewing
Switzerland, June 2006
Switzerland, June 2006
Switzerland, June 2006
Val d'Aran, July 2002
Piedmont ringlet, Erebia meolans, for
comparison
Distribution
De Prunner's ringlet is one of the more precocious Erebia species, appearing as early as March in the Rhône Valley of Switzerland, though more commonly in April. At altitude it emerges later, and may still be seen in July on high mountain slopes. It is widespread in the southern mountains of Europe but rather local and in my experience never abundant. I have never seen it gathering in numbers in the way some other Erebia do. I have found the species in Switzerland and the Pyrenees.
Identification is generally easy. The three most apical spots
on the
forewing are more or less in a line - though it is not always as
straight as books suggest. In Piedmont ringlet, which flies in many of
the same areas, the small apical spot, if present, is set off at a
distinctly more jaunty angle. The other species that might be confused
with de Prunner's ringlet is the woodland ringlet. This sometimes shows
a line of three spots in the apical region. The underside hindwing,
however, is very different. That of de Prunner's ringlet has a rough
texture and the submarginal spots are naked - not set in red. The
underside of the woodland ringlet is essentially the same as the
upperside, with the spots set in larger, red circles.
Like most Satyrids, this is a grass feeder, laying eggs on
sheep's
fescue, meadow grasses and feather grass amongst others. It hibernates
as a fourth-instar caterpillar, so only has one instar to go in the
spring - hence the early flight period where altitude and conditions
permit. It flies in a single brood.