Butterflies and Moths of North America

collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera

Common Alpine
Erebia epipsodea Butler, 1868


Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Satyrinae
Identification: Wings are dark brown. Upperside of both wings with white-centered submarginal eyespots in a yellow-orange patch. Underside of forewing is similar to the upperside; hindwing is gray with submarginal black eyespots.
Wing Span: 1 5/8 - 2 inches (4.2 - 5.1 cm).
Life History: Males patrol all day to watch for females. Eggs are laid on living and dead grasses. Third- and fourth-stage caterpillars hibernate.
Flight: One brood from mid-June to early August.
Caterpillar Hosts: Probably grasses.
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Moist open grassy fields, meadows, high prairies, open forests.
Range: Alaska south through the Rocky Mountains to northern New Mexico; west across the prairie provinces to southwest Manitoba.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
Comments: NULL