 |
 |
 |
|
| UK Status |
|
|
|
| Resident |
A species which is continually Resident in the UK with stable breeding populations. |
|
|
| Migrant |
A species which occurs as a Migrant in the UK. It may be able to breed here although they are usually unable to survive our winter months. Migrants are normally reported in the UK every year. |
|
|
| Rare Migrant |
A species which occurs as a Rare Migrant in the UK. It may able to breed here although they are usually unable to survive our winter months. Rare Migrants may not be seen for many years. |
|
|
| Extinct |
A species which is Extinct in the UK, usually as a result of habitat loss. |
|
|
| Introduction |
A species which ocurs in the UK as an accidental introduction. |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Description
The Mountain Ringlet is Britain only true montane species. In Britain the Mountain Ringlet is found in the Scottish Highlands and the Lake District (Cumbria) above 350m from sea level. The adult butterflies are very active in bright sunshine flying low to the ground often pausing to bask or feed on the flowers of Tormentil.
The Mountain Ringlet is a Priority Species for conservation due to the continued loss of habitat and resulting drop in population.
Habitat
The Mountain Ringlet is only found in an open mountain grassland habitat which is dominated by Matt-grass and Heath Bedstraw.
In the Lake District the Mountain Ringlet occurs at an altitude of 500-700m and exists on both north and south facing slopes while in Scotland it occurs between 350-900m from sea level and prefers south facing slopes.
Adults tend to be most common in damper areas especially wet flushes where sedges occur but they may also be found in heathy areas.
Larval Food Plants
The main larval food plant of the Mountain Ringlet is Matt-grass (Nardus stricta). However the full range of larval food plants is not known although some recent observations may suggest an association with Sheep's-fescue (Festuca ovina).
British Subspecies
The following sub-species of the Mountain Ringlet occur in the UK.
 Mountain Ringlet - Erebia epiphron mnemon (Haworth, 1812) - England only, in the Lake District.
Mountain Ringlet - Erebia epiphron scotia (Cooke, 1943) - Occurs in Scotland only.
|
|
|
|
| Distribution |
|
 |
| The full distribution of the Mountain Ringlet in Britain is not fully known primarily due to the remoteness and unpredictable weather of its mountain home. Its range appears stable although there is evidence that with the onset of global warming the species is emerging earlier in the year and may also be migrating to higher parts of its mountain home. This upward migration in the search for a cooler climate may result in local extinctions... once the top of a mountain is reached the butterfly has nowhere to go!! |
|
 |
|
| Where to see the Mountain Ringlet |
The full distribution of the Mountain Ringlet in Britain is not fully known primarily due to the remoteness and unpredictable weather of its mountain home. Its range appears stable although there is evidence that with the onset of global warming the species is emerging earlier in the year and may also be migrating to higher parts of its mountain home. This upward migration in the search for a cooler climate may result in local extinctions... once the top of a mountain is reached the butterfly has nowhere to go!!
Key sites for the Mountain Ringlet include:
Cumbria: Wrynose Pass (Park at the Three Shires Stone and follow the main track up the hill in a northerly direction. Note that there is limited car parking here), Wrynose Breast, Sprinkling Tarn (A colony exists on the grassy slopes surrounding Sprinkling Tarn), Honister Pass (Two good sites near the Honister Pass. The first site is on the plateau at Fleetwith between Grey Knotts and Honister Craggs. Park at the slate mine visitors centre, and follow the path running uphill, east of the slate mine visitors centre. The second site is opposite the slate mine visitors centre. Cross over the Honister Pass road and head uphill. Mountain Ringlets should be present around and to the east of Yew Crag). Also present at Kidsty Pike, east of Hartsop and between Irton Fell and Whinn Rigg.
Scotland: Ben Lawers, Lochan an Eireannaich, Glen Dochart, Strathfillan (Ben Lui, Cam Chreag, Beinn Chaorach and Meall Buidhe), and Ben Lomond. It also occurs in the Loch Lomond and Breadalbane areas where suitable habitat occurs. |
|
| Population Trends |
| species status |
the Mountain Ringlet is a resident species in Britain |
| population trend1 |
(1995-2004)  insuficient data |
(1976-2004) insuficient data |
|
|
1Fox, R., Asher. J., Brereton. T., Roy, D & Warren, M.
(2006) The State of Butterflies in Britain & Ireland, Pices, Oxford. |
| UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) Status |
| UK BAP status2 |
candidate priority species (link) |
|
|
| 2 For more information about the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) species status, visit www.ukbap.org.uk. |
| IUCN Category Status |
| IUCN category3 |
 near threatened4 |
|
|
3 Fox, R., Warren, M & Brereton, T.
(2007) New Red List of British Butterflies. Butterfly Conservation, Wareham.
4 More information about IUCN categories available here. |
| Find Out More Online* |
| More information about the Mountain Ringlet can be found on Peter Eeles excellent UK Butterflies web site. |
|
|
|
|
Aberrations and Forms |
|
|
| We currently know of 2 named aberrant forms of the Mountain Ringlet. More information about aberrants can be found here. |
 ab. effusa - Turati (1915) |
|
| ab. latefasciata - Dioszeghy (1930) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| References |
| The information on this web site comes from a variety of freely available resources including books, academic reports and web sites alongside my own personal observations of butterflies. The species descriptions are currently in the process of being edited (spring 2009) to include new data, recent personal observations and referencing following a major update to the site.
A complete list of references mentioned in the text on this web site is available here. |
| * External Links Disclaimer |
| This web site includes links to information provided by external web sites which are not in any way under the control of www.britishbutterflies.co.uk. We cannot, therefore, be held responsible for the content of external web pages. |
|
|
|
|
28-38mm
