Raetzer's ringlet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Raetzer's ringlet |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Nymphalidae |
| Genus: | Erebia |
| Species: |
E. christi
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| Binomial name | |
| Erebia christi Rätzer, 1890
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The Raetzer's ringlet (Erebia christi) is a type of butterfly that belongs to the Nymphalidae family. It is a very rare butterfly found only in parts of Italy and Switzerland. Its natural home is in grassy areas where the weather is not too hot or too cold. It is one of the rarest butterflies in Europe, with only about six or seven small groups left.
Raetzer's Ringlet Butterfly
What Does It Look Like?
The Raetzer's ringlet butterfly is larger than its close relative, the small mountain ringlet. Its front wings are longer and have rounded tips and edges. The back wings are also rounded.
On its front wing, there is a brown band that goes across the wing. This band is usually made up of about six spots. The spots are separated by the veins of the wing. Inside the top spots, you can often see three or four small black dots in a straight line. The two dots in the middle are usually bigger than the others.
The hindwing (back wing) has four, or sometimes three, oval-shaped, reddish-yellow spots. These spots also have black dots inside them. In female butterflies, these dots can sometimes look like streaks.
The underside of the front wing is reddish-brown. It is darker near the body of the butterfly. The lighter band on the wing stands out clearly. The edges of the wing are brownish-grey. On the underside, only the two central black dots are as big as they are on the top side. Other dots might be very small or missing completely.
The underside of the hindwing is a purplish-grey color. It has a darker, jagged band. This band is harder to see in females but is clear in males.
These butterflies are mostly found in a very small area. One known place is the Laquin Valley, near the Simplon Pass in Switzerland. They live on grassy, flowery slopes that have rocks and boulders.
Life Cycle and Habits
These butterflies love to warm up in the sun. They often spread their wings wide open to soak up the sun's rays. Male butterflies often gather in groups on damp ground.
Female butterflies visit different flowers to drink nectar. They especially like a plant called thyme. When it's time to lay eggs, they choose the dry stems of a grass known as Festuca ovina.
The caterpillars of the Raetzer's ringlet have a long journey to become butterflies. They actually hibernate (sleep through the winter) not once, but twice before they are fully grown!
 | Bayard Rustin |
 | Jeannette Carter |
 | Jeremiah A. Brown |
