Sooty Ringlet

Erebia pluto

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Mating pair, Switzerland, June 2005

Male showing glimpse of upperside, form oreas, Switzerland, June 2005

Male underside, Switzerland, June 2005

Male underside, Switzerland, June 2005

In the past I have seen very black sooty ringlets near where I live in Switzerland but never been able to photograph them. These insects are at a different site where form oreas flies. These insects are dark and the males have no spots but there is a prominent orange flush on the forewing upperside which is more extensive on the underside. There is no extension into the cell area on the upperside and no orange on the hindwing upperside, distinguishing them from Erebia mnestra, the mnestra ringlet (which I have never seen).