Arran Brown (Erebia ligea)
Species

Male. Taken in the Vercors Natural Park, France, on July 21st 2018.
(1/160th sec at f10. © David Hastings)

Female. Taken in the Vercors Natural Park, France, on July 20th 2018.
(1/125th sec at f11. © David Hastings)

Underside. Taken nr Dobrinishte, Bulgaria, on July 25th 2015.
(1/250th sec at f10. © David Hastings)

Description

Family: Satyrinae

Wing span: 32 - 46mm

The Arran Brown has chocolate-brown uppersides with red or orange postdiscal bands. The wing fringes are strongly chequered. The sexes are similar.

It is widely distributed in N Europe. In C Europe it is most common in mountains above 500m from France and C Italy through the north Balkans and E Europe. It is not found in the British Isles.

Typical habitats are sheltered forest edges and clearings, heaths and rough grassland near woods, and birch forest in northern Europe up to 2500m.

There is one generation per year between early July and late August. In its northern range larvae can take two years to develop.

Larvae feed on a wide range of grasses.

Sightings

25-Jul-2018 : Vercors Natural Park, France
24-Jul-2018 : Vercors Natural Park, France
22-Jul-2018 : Vercors Natural Park, France
21-Jul-2018 : Vercors Natural Park, France
20-Jul-2018 : Vercors Natural Park, France

26-Jul-2015 : Baderitza, Bulgaria
25-Jul-2015 : Nr Dobrinishte, Bulgaria
24-Jul-2015 : nr Kirilova polyana, Bulgaria
23-Jul-2015 : Papaz Tchair, Bulgaria