Woodland Ringlet

Erebia medusa

Switzerland, May 2007

Underside, Switzerland, May 2007

Switzerland, May 2007

Switzerland, May 2005

This ringlet is common in Spring in meadows near me. I have also seen it in the Vosges. It is a largish ringlet and relatively easily identified, being of of the few Erebia species to have the same pattern and colours on both sides of the wings. Bright-eyed ringlet shares this feature, and is extremely variable, but it lacks the pale tips and underside to the antennae.

In my part of Switzerland, the apparently uncontrolled destruction of meadowland to build chalets (principally for British buyers at the moment) is a significant threat to the species.