The yellow-banded ringlet (Erebia flavofasciata) is a butterfly species in the subfamily Satyrinae of the family Nymphalidae. It is a high-altitude mountain butterfly found in a restricted area of the Alps in Switzerland and Italy.
Taxonomy
The species was first described by Heyne in 1895. Its scientific name, Erebia flavofasciata, derives from the genus Erebia (the ringlets) and the Latin flavofasciata meaning "yellow-banded." A Swiss subspecies, Erebia flavofasciata warreni, has been proposed.
Description
The yellow-banded ringlet has a wingspan and shape similar to Erebia cassiope, with a pattern closer to Erebia melampus. The ground color is dark brown, with females being distinctly paler than males.
Upper side: The forewing bears a narrow russet-brown distal band separated by veins into 5–6 rounded or oval spots, each containing small black dots. The hindwing has 4 russet-yellow rounded spots with black dots before the outer margin; these spots are larger in females.
Under side: The forewing underside is greyish brown with a continuous, somewhat broader yellow-brown distal band. The hindwing underside is brownish grey with a distinctive, broad straw-yellow band extending from the costal margin to near the anal angle, containing a row of 5–6 black dots of nearly even size. This conspicuous yellowish band on the hindwing underside is a key identifying feature.
A darker form, thiemei Bartel, occurs in the Engadine region, with the forewing distal band broken into isolated spots of varying sizes.
Distribution and habitat
The species is endemic to a small area of the Alps, found in Switzerland (notably the Campolungo Pass near Fusio in the Tessin Alps, and Pontresina in the upper Engadine) and Italy. It occurs above the tree line on steep, sunny, grassy, and rocky slopes.
Behavior
Adults can often be seen taking nectar in grasslands with tall, flower-rich vegetation. Females descend to lay eggs in different microhabitats. The butterflies are recognizable in flight by the yellowish band on the underside of the hindwing.
Life cycle
The larval host plant is currently unknown.
