Raetzer's ringlet

Raetzer's ringlet
Museum specimens.Switzerland.Wheeler collection.Ulster Museum.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Genus: Erebia
Species: E. christi
Binomial name
Erebia christi
Rätzer, 1890

The Raetzer's ringlet (Erebia christi) is a species of butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in Italy and Switzerland. Its natural habitat is temperate grassland. It is one of the rarest European butterflies, having not more than six or seven populations.

Biology

The butterflies often bask in the sun with their wings wide open. The males congregate regularly on damp ground. The females visit different nectar plants and are especially fond of thyme. They lay their eggs on the dry grass stems of Festuca ovina. Before completing their development, the caterpillars hibernate twice.[2]

References

  1. ↑ van Swaay, C.; Wynhoff, I.; Verovnik, R.; Wiemers, M.; López Munguira, M.; Maes, D.; Sasic, M.; Verstrael, T.; Warren, M. & Settele, J. (2010). "Erebia christi". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 2010: e.T39491A10232607. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-1.RLTS.T39491A10232607.en. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
  2. ↑ C. Van Swaay; et al. (2012). "Dos and Don'ts for butterflies of the Habitats Directive of the European Union". Nature Conservation. 1: 73. doi:10.3897/natureconservation.1.2786.

Sources


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