Erebia orientalis Elwes, 1900

Host plants:
Poaceae, e.g. Nardus stricta and Festuca.

Habitat:
Erebia orientalis inhabits alpine pastures and grassy slopes which are often interspersed with shrub (Pinus, Juniperus). I met Erebia orientalis together with Erebia rhodopensis at the same mountain slope in the Rila mountains, but in slightly lower altitudes and at more shrubbery places.

Life cycle:
The adults appear in July and August. The often visit flowers (Thymus, Dianthus etc.). The caterpillar presumably hibernates twice and should be mature in June.

Endangerment factors:
Erebia orientalis is probably at low risk at the moment. But potential threats may be climatic change or future touristic facilities as well as overgrazing.

Remarks:
Erebia orientalis is endemic to the Balkan peninsula and is there almost restricted to west Bulgaria (Pirin and Rila mountains mostly between 1900 and 2700m asl).