Raetzer's ringlet
| Raetzer's ringlet | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Museum specimens.Switzerland.Wheeler collection.Ulster Museum. | |
| Conservation status | |
| 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 Nymphalidae family. 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.[1]
References
- ↑ 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
- Van Swaay, C.A.M. & Warren, M.S. 2000. Erebia christi. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 31 July 2007.