Identifying features
Wingspan 27–32 millimetres. The upper sides of the wings are uniformly chocolate brown, with an orange border on the hindwings. The underside of the hindwing is scalloped with white markings, with three narrow lines in dark brown, orange, and silver, six orange-tinged eye spots, and a white, mottled cross-band.
Similar species
A possible look-alike species is pearly heath ( Coenonympha arcania), but they differ on the underside of the hindwing: in pearly heath, the uppermost eyespot is located inside the white cross-band, while all eyespots are located outside it in scarce heath. The upperside of the forewing is orange in pearly heath and chocolate brown in scarce heath.
Distribution
The core area consists of Värmland, as well as southern and central Dalarna; previously also in Skåne, where it disappeared in 1996.
Biology
The larvae live on various grass species and overwinter by sitting on vegetation near the ground, usually in the third stage.