Vidler's Alpine
Erebia vidleri Elwes, 1898

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Diagnosis: The upperside is brownish black, with a characteristic jagged-edged light orange band on both wings enclosing three black eye-spots on the forewing and two or three on the hindwing. The forewing underside is the same as the upperside; the band on the underside of the hindwing is grey and the eye-spots are inconspicuous or absent. Wingspan: 35 to 45 mm.

Range: Erebia vidleri flies only in the mountainous regions of Washington State and British Columbia as far north as Mt. Hoadley.

Specimen collection data
and dynamic map

Similar Species: In the Common Alpine (E. epipsodea), the grey band on the underside of the hindwing extends to the wing margin, containing small but well-defined eye-spots. [compare images]

Early Stages: The larva is unknown, but presumably feeds on grasses.

Abundance: This species is fairly common in southwestern British Columbia.

Flight Season: Adults are on the wing in July and early August.

Habits: Erebia vidleri flies in flowery alpine meadows and along mountain ridges in the Cascade and Coast Ranges.

Remarks: This species is superficially similar to Erebia niphonica Janson, of Japan, but it is not closest in genitalia. Vidler's Alpine is the most colourful of the North American alpines.

© 2002. This material is reproduced with permission from The Butterflies of Canada by Ross A. Layberry, Peter W. Hall, and J. Donald Lafontaine. University of Toronto Press; 1998. Specimen photos courtesy of John T. Fowler.