Austrian erebia...

[David M]

I don't like pronouncing upon erebia unless it is a species I'm familiar with.

This one has been presented to me as a possible nivalis.

Anyone any thoughts?

From Grossglockner in the Austrian Alps:

[Padfield]

It’s certainly very good for nivalis. Do you know the altitude and whether any other brassy ringlets were seen with it?

Guy

[David M]

Thanks, Guy. The only other information I have is that the butterfly was found "high up".

[Padfield]

Hi David. Nivalis is a seriously high-altitude butterfly - never below about 2200m. The upperside characteristics include apical spots that almost touch (cf. tyndarus, where they may be distinctly separate, though sometimes almost touch, and cassioides/arvernensis, where they are contiguous), the two 'fingers' reaching in towards the centre of the wing and the weak spots on the hindwing (much weaker than in cassioides/arvernensis).

Here is nivalis from Switzerland. It is rather similar to the photo you have been sent:



Guy

[David M]

Many thanks for the diagnostic, Guy. These central European erebia are off my radar sadly, but it's interesting to read your comments both here AND in your recently published book, a copy of which I received yesterday courtesy of Amazon!