Magdalena Alpine

Erebia magdalena is resident throughout much of Alaska and in several small separate populations in British Columbia/Alberta, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado and northern New Mexico (Scott 1986). Habitats are arctic/alpine zone rockslides, usually near vegetation. Host plants are unknown, larvae eat grass in the lab. Individuals overwinter as larvae. There is one flight each year with the approximate flight time July 1-July 31 in the southern part of their range, late June-July 31 in the Arctic (Scott 1986).

Very restricted range; provincial rank S1and status is "Secure" because habitat is protected.

Adults fly from July to early August (Bird et al., 1995).

In Canada, this species can be found in Alberta and the adjacent Rocky Mountains of British Columbia (Layberry et al., 1998). However, in Alberta, it has been collected from only two sites in the Willmore Wilderness Area. In the United States, it is found in the high mountains of Colorado, western Wyoming, and northeastern Utah (Opler et al., 1995).

"This medium sized (wingspan of 45-51 mm) alpine is distinct from other alpines in Alberta, because the wing surfaces are dark brown to black and lack any white markings. Although most specimens are uniform in colour, some populations develop a rust coloured patch. The eggs are ovoid with rounded ridges on the sides and rounded bumps on the top and bottom. They are cream coloured with the micropile centered at the apex. First instar larvae are cream to light green and have a few fine hairs; second instar larvae are green, with a brown head capsule; third to fifth instar larvae have dark brown head capsules, and the body is green with black markings. Pupae are short and ovoid, they have olive green to brown-coloured heads and their abdomen is medium brown with green; the cremaster is blunt and rounded (Hilchie, 1990)."

Boulder fields near vegetation, at or above treeline (Hilchie, 1990).

Larvae overwinter and it may take them more than a year to reach maturity (Bird et al., 1995). Pupation occurs on the ground (Bird et al., 1995). To find females, males patrol along ridges and over rockslides and actively pursue potential mates (Hilchie, 1990). Eggs are laid shortly after mating, near rockslides, on grasses and sedges, and on the side of rocks near rushes, where they are glued to the substrate (Hilchie, 1990).

Unknown for Alberta and elsewhere. Larvae have been reared on Kentucky Bluegrass (Poa pratensis), fescue (Festuca sp.), and Barley (Hordeum vulgare) in the lab (Hilchie, 1990). Larvae probably feed on grasses, sedges, and/or rushes (Hilchie, 1990). Adults feed on flower nectar (Opler et al., 1995).

The Magdalena alpine (Erebia magdalena) is a member of the subfamily Satyrinae of the family Nymphalidae. It is found in North America from Montana, Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico, and in Canada in a small part of the Willmore Wilderness Park, Alberta, and adjacent British Columbia, in Stone Mountain Provincial Park in northern British Columbia, and on an isolated nunatak in Kluane National Park and Reserve, Yukon. The habitat consists of rockslides near vegetation, at or above the treeline.

The wingspan is 41–45 mm. The wings are black above and below. Adults are on the wing from late June and July.

The larvae probably feed on grasses, sedges or rushes.