Erebia christi Rätzer, 1890

Host plants:
Festuca grasses (F. ovina agg.)

Habitat:
Erebia christi inhabits dry, sunny, steep, rocky slopes between about 1350 and 2100m that are most often interspersed with a few Larix trees.

Life cycle:
The butterflies occur mostly between late June and mid-July. In uneven years population density is said to be higher. the larvae develop in the Festuca tussocks on rock and hibernate twice. A common nectar plant is Thymus.

Endangerment factors:
Loss of habitat and global warming

Remarks:
Erebia christi is endemic to the southern side of Simplon pass and known only from a few sites in Switzerland and adjacing Italy.

Hints on determination:
The uppermost redbrown spot on forewing upperside bears usually a black spot. This is very unusual in similar species.