| Scotch Argus (Erebia aethiops (Esper, 1777)) |
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Scientific name: Erebia aethiops (Esper, 1777) Common name: Scotch Argus French name: Moiré sylvicole, Grand nègre, Moiré tardif. Order: Lepidoptera Suborder: Rhopalocera Family: Nymphalidae Subfamily: Satyrinae Wingspan: 44-52 mm. Biotope: Meadows, woodlands and bushes, from sea level to an altitude of 1800 meters. Geographic area: Central and eastern Europe, from north of Germany to north of Italy and from eastern side of France to the Baltic sea. Present in Scotland but missing in Scandinavia. Asia Minor, Ural, Caucasus. Flight time: July to September. Number of generations : 1 Caterpillar: Beige with dark longitudinal lines. The head is reddish brown. Host plant: Many graminae like Tor-grass (Brachypodium pinnatum), Erect Brome (Bromus erectus), Blue Moor Grass (Sesleria caerulea) or Sheep Fescue (Festuca ovina). |
The upper side of the Scotch Argus' wings is a very dark brown colour with an orange band on each wing. These bands show several black white-pupiled eyespots, 3 of them on the forewing. The underside of the hindwings is brown with a grey band, sharper on the female, and showing 3 or 4 small white dots. This butterfly emerges late in summer and appears brighter than other species which have become paler at this time. |
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There is still a doubt about the identification of this butterfly. I have no view of the underside of the wings and Scotch Argus are usually brighter coloured. |
André Bon November 2007