Almond ringlet facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Almond ringlet
Upperside
Female, underside
Scientific classification

The Almond Ringlet (scientific name: Erebia alberganus) is a beautiful butterfly. It belongs to the Nymphalidae family, which is one of the largest butterfly families. This butterfly is also sometimes called the Almond-Eyed Ringlet because of the special marks on its wings.

Where Does the Almond Ringlet Live?

These butterflies like to live in the high mountains of Europe. You can find them in places like the Alps in France, Italy, Switzerland, and Austria. They also live in the mountains of central Italy and some parts of the northern Balkans.

What Kind of Places Do They Like?

Almond Ringlets prefer sunny, flowery meadows. They also live in open areas in forests, grassy spots, and places with small bushes or trees. They like to be high up, usually between 1,000 and 2,200 meters (about 3,300 to 7,200 feet) above sea level. Imagine living on a mountain!

What Does the Almond Ringlet Look Like?

Mating pair

The Almond Ringlet is a medium-sized butterfly. Its wings can spread about 40 millimeters wide, which is about 1.5 inches. Their wings are mostly dark brown.

Special Marks on Their Wings

What makes them special are the orange marks on their wings. These marks are oval or shaped like an almond, which is how they got their name! Inside these orange spots, there are small black dots. These black dots often have tiny white highlights, making them look like little eyes. Both the top and bottom sides of their wings look very similar.

Males and Females

Female Almond Ringlets are usually a bit bigger than the males. Their brown color is also often a little lighter. The "eyespots" on their wings, which are the black dots with white centers, are more noticeable on the females.

Similar Butterflies

The Almond Ringlet looks quite a lot like another butterfly called the woodland ringlet. However, the Almond Ringlet has smaller eyespots, which helps you tell them apart.

Life Cycle of the Almond Ringlet

The life of an Almond Ringlet butterfly starts as a tiny egg. When the eggs hatch, they become caterpillars.

What Do Caterpillars Eat?

Almond Ringlet caterpillars love to eat different types of grasses. Some of their favorite foods include Poa annua, sheep's fescue (Festuca ovina), and sweet vernal-grass (Anthoxanthum odoratum).

Hibernation and Pupation

When the caterpillars are about halfway grown, they go into a special sleep called hibernation. They stay like this through the winter. In the spring, they wake up and change into a pupa (like a chrysalis). This is where they transform into a butterfly.

When Do Adults Fly?

After pupating, the adult butterflies emerge. You can usually see adult Almond Ringlets flying around from the middle of June until August.

Images for kids

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  Erebia alberganus male, top view

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  Erebia alberganus male, bottom view