114 



BULLETIN UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA. 



Genus EREBIA, Dalman. 



"The Alpines." 



Key to Species. 



Wings dark brown, ocelli pupiled with white and surrounded with 

 red. epipsodea. 



THE COMMON ALPINE, Erebia epipsodea, Butler. 



Fig. 86, 87. 



Butterfly The wings are dark brown, almost black, pupiled with 

 white, and broadly surrounded with red near the outer margin of the 

 fore wings, and with three or four ocelli on the upper side of the nind 

 wings. The spots on the upper side reappear on the under side, and in 

 addition -the hind wings are covered by a 

 broad, curved, median blackish band. 



Early Stages The caterpillar feeds on 

 grasses. 



Distribution It ranges from New Mex- 

 ico (at high elevations) northward to Alas- 

 ka. It is common on the mountains of 

 British Columbia. The collection in the 

 University of Montana contains specimens 

 from Sinyaleamin lake and McDonald lake 

 in the Mission Mountains, Flathead Indian 

 Reservation, the Tobacco Root range, Gey- 

 ser Basin and Missoula. 



It has been collected by Brandegee at 

 Helena, and reported common. It has 

 been taken by Cooley at East Flathead in 

 Park county, at Shields river, Park county, 

 at elevation 6,400 feet, at Mystic lake, Gal- 

 latin county, at 6,700 feet, and at Bozeman. 



Fig. 86. Venation of Erebia epipsodea 



Fig. 88. Erebia epipsodea, 

 lower surface. 



Fig. 87. Erebia epipsodea, 

 upper side. 



This butterfly is one of the early spring insects. The earliest about 

 Missoula are Aglais milberti and Eugonia californica. Before the hot 

 days come on Erebia epipsodea seems to be at its best. The last of May 

 and the first days of June are the times when it is at its best. Its 

 flight is like Cercyon, and the species is easily recognized by its flight. 



