Unknown Ringlet

[selbypaul]

Hi everyone
Back in 2016, I was completely new to European butterflies when I went on Naturetrek butterflying holiday in the Dolomites that June. I've subsequently been on many more Naturetrek holidays, and improved my knowledge and expertise, so have been going back over various photos I took in 2016, to see if I misidentified any.

See attached photo of a Ringlet of some sort. At the time I didn't think it anything special and didn't ask the holiday guides what it was. But looking back at it, I'm wondering what it was.

Looking through the various guides, my leading candidate is Water Ringlet. Only problem is that it looks like the variant "vergy" which the guides suggest only flies in Switzerland.

Alternative candidates are Yellow Spotted Ringlet (variant pyrrhula), Bright Eyed Ringlet (variant lugons), or Large Ringlet (variant ocellaris).

The last of these was seen by others on the holiday in the same location that day, (not by me), but the pictures in the Collins guide look different, with the "chequered edge" missing in my photo, and also having more orange patches in Collins.

What does everyone think? Water Ringlet or something else? Thanks in advance!
Paul

[selbypaul]

I should say by the way that the specific location was the Park Natural Paneveggio

[selbypaul]

Just bumping this back to the top of the forum posts as it had dropped off the first page.

Any guesses about the type of Ringlet?

[Charles Nicol]

here is a photo of ocellaris:

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/ ... aris_3.jpg

it seems to have more of those orange bits than yours ?

[selbypaul]

Thanks for that Charles. From that picture, Large Ringlet (variant Ocellaris) would seem to be ruled out

[petesmith]

It's a tricky one Paul! One of those situations that I am sure many of us have been in where you just wish you had an underside shot to help you out.

My opinion, for what it's worth, is that the forewing shape is slightly off for it to be Yellow Spotted Ringlet.
I would favour Water Ringlet as the most likely ID over a variant Bright-eyed, but I am no expert on Erebias.

It may well be one of those that, frustratingly, you never get a 100% definitive ID on.
It would be interesting to hear Guy's opinion on this one!

[selbypaul]

Thanks Pete
That is helpful. It suggests my thoughts are in the right direction, if not yet confirmed
Best Wishes
Paul

[David M]

Hi Paul,

Water Ringlet is a species I haven't seen, but I have seen plenty of oeme; and in the Pyrenees too! I have to say it doesn't appear to be Bright Eyed Ringlet, and in any case the guides state that the lugens form, with the reduced ocelli, is found in Switzerland.

Turning to pronoe, the insect certainly matches very well the depiction of the glottis specimen on p289, particularly the completely 'blind' hindwings. What's more, the forms you referred to in your opening post for manto and euryale are recorded in areas of Europe far away from the Pyrenees.

So, if it were me, I'd be pretty confident I'd seen pronoe there....unless Guy or Roger were to conjure something else up (I think Water Ringlet is one of the very few mainland French species that Roger has not yet seen).

[selbypaul]

Thanks David. Your line of thinking matches mine, which is good to know, as that's how I honed in on Water Ringlet as the most likely species.

PS - I saw it in the Dolomites, not the Pyrenees

[David M]

Not quite sure why I had the Pyrenees on the brain, Paul? Your opening post leaves no room for doubt!

I still think it's a Water Ringlet though!

[selbypaul]

Excellent!

[Padfield]

Sorry about joining this discussion so late. I've had very little time on my hands over the last few weeks even to browse UK Butterflies.

I'd say this is definitely (ahem ... how often have I lived to regret that word?) E. euryale ocellaris. This subspecies flies in the Dolomites and looks just like this butterfly; but most tellingly for me, I've never known the other species mentioned to have such obviously chequered fringes. I've examined all my own photos of manto and pronoe and none of them have more than a vague hint.

I've never seen ocellaris myself - very interesting!

Guy

[selbypaul]

Thanks Guy! That's really helpful.

Not sure whether to be disappointed or pleased!