Identifying features
Medium-sized moth with a wingspan of 43–48 mm. The upper side is brown, with a large and two to three smaller, yellow-edged, black spots near the tip of the forewing; the large spot is double, resembling an 8. The underside of the forewing is dark brown, with 4–5 yellow-edged, black spots, where the largest often have a white center. The underside of the hindwing is uniformly dark brown.
Similar species
Can be confused with the other Erebia species in Norway – arran brown, Disa Alpine, Dewy ringlet and woodland ringlet, so the pattern of spots must be studied carefully, preferably with images to support this.
Distribution
Eastern species belonging to the taiga; found from Northern Europe through Siberia eastward to Altai, Sayan, and Kamchatka. In Norway, it is only found in the most eastern parts: the border regions of Akershus (likely extinct there), Hedmark, and South-Varanger in Finnmark.
Biology
The larva lives on sedges (Carex spp.) and bunchgrass (Deschampsia spp.). It is a pale ochre colour with a green-brown stripe and short, dense hairs.