(Hübner, 1804)
Blind Ringlet
Description:
This Ringlet owes its rather odd name to the absence of eye-spots on both surfaces of the wings. The Blind Ringlet occurs both on dry and damp grasslands, especially where the vegetation is tall, and in grassy places at the edge of woodland. Above the tree-line, they occur mainly on dry vegetation.
They have various food plants, depending on the habitat. In dry places, the caterpillars can be found on Mat-grass (Nardus stricta), Festuca quadriflora, and Sheep's Fescue (F. ovina), and in damper places in the shade on Red Fescue (F. rubra), Glaucous Sedge (Carex flacca), and C. ferruginea.
The caterpillar hibernates twice, pupating at the end of May between spun grass stalks.
Habitat:
Alpine grasslands
Inland cliffs and exposed rocks
Similar species:
Erebia eriphyle
Erebia manto
Erebia epiphron