BC Conservation Data Centre: Conservation Status Report
Erebia discoidalis
Red-disked Alpine
| Scientific Name: | Erebia discoidalis |
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| English Name: | Red-disked Alpine |
| Provincial Status Summary | |
| Status: | S4S5 |
| Date Status Assigned: | January 28, 2020 |
| Date Last Reviewed: | January 28, 2020 |
| Reasons: | This species is found in the northern third of the province with over 30 occurrences and no known substantial threats. |
| Range | |
| Range Extent: | G = 200,000-2,500,000 square km |
| Range Extent Comments: | The estimated range extent is from Ft. St. John near the Alberta border north west to the outside of Atlin, and various points inbetween. The range extent is estmated at 240,000 km2. |
| Area of Occupancy (km2): | U = Unknown |
| Linear Distance of Occupancy: | U = Unknown |
| Occurrences & Population | |
| Number of Occurrences: | CD = 21 - 300 |
| Comments: | Guppy and Shepard (2001) report over 30 occurrences in the Peace, Ominica and Skeena regions. Five additional occurrences within the Peace Region include the Alaska Highway at mile 29 and 128; Taylor; Fort St. John, and K 0 - 4 Ruffner Road (Kondla 2003). |
| Number of Occurrences with Good Viability / Ecological Integrity: | U = Unknown |
| Comments: | The most recent records from the Peace Region have not been rechecked. It is unknown if populations are of good viability. |
| Number of Occurrences Appropriately Protected & Managed: | A = None |
| Comments: | There are no known protected locations. Sites where populations are known to occur are owned by the BC Ministry of Highways, along the Alaska highway. |
| Population Size: | U = Unknown |
| Threats (to population, occurrences, or area affected) | |
| Degree of Threat: | D = Low |
| Trend (in population, range, area occupied, and/or condition of occurrences) | |
| Short-Term Trend: | U = Unknown |
| Long-Term Trend: | U = Unknown |
| Other Factors | |
| Intrinsic Vulnerability: | U=Unknown |
| Environmental Specificity: | B=Narrow. Specialist or community with key requirements common. |
| Comments: | All butterflies require species specific foodplants for both the larval and adult (nectar) life stage. Erebia discoidalis larvae likely require grasses (Poa spp.) although the specific species are unknown (Guppy and Shepard 2001). |
| Other Rank Considerations: | |
| Information Gaps | |
| Research Needs: | Life history, dispersal distances, clarify foodplant and patch size specificity; clarify threats |
| Inventory Needs: | Inventory and monitoring of all butterflies throughout British Columbia. Monitoring of populations at known sites surveyed in the past ten years. |
| Stewardship | |
| Protection: | There are no known protected locations. Sites where populations are known to occur are owned by the BC Ministry of Highways, along the Alaska highway. |
| Management: | Contact with BC Ministry of Highways to advise on best management practices guidelines to road maintenance workers will aid in habitat protection at known sites. |
| Version | |
| Author: | Heron, J. |
| Date: | January 28, 2020 |
| References | |
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Guppy, C.S., and J.H. Shepard. 2001. Butterflies of British Columbia. UBC Press in collaboration with Royal B.C. Mus. 414pp.
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Kondla, N. 2003. N. Kondla's Lepidoptera observation database.
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Please visit the website Conservation Status Ranks for information on how the CDC determines conservation status ranks. For global conservation status reports and ranks, please visit the NatureServe website http://www.natureserve.org/.
Suggested Citation:
B.C. Conservation Data Centre. 2020. Conservation Status Report: Erebia discoidalis. B.C. Minist. of Environment. Available: https://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/eswp/ (accessed Jun 11, 2026).