Global and European regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)
EU 27 regional assessment: Near Threatened (NT)

The Silky Ringlet is endemic to the European region where it occurs in many mountainous areas. The population trend is inferred to be declining. It is assessed as Least Concern in Europe, as it does not meet, nor is close to meeting, the thresholds for any category of threat. In the EU 27 region, the area of occupancy of this species is 1,608 km², and although its populations are not severely fragmented or fluctuating there is evidence of a continuing decline in habitat quality and area, so it meets one B subcriterion. It has therefore been assessed as Near Threatened, nearly meeting B2ab(iii), in the EU 27 region.

This species is endemic to the European region where it occurs in many mountainous areas: in the Cantabrian Mountains (Spain), the Pyrenees, the Alps, central Italy, the Velebit Mountains (Croatia, not mapped), the Dinarian Alps in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the mountains of southern Serbia, the south of Albania and south-western Bulgaria, the western Carpathians (Romania) and the Tatra Mountains (Poland and Slovakia). It is found at altitudes between 1,400 and 2,900 m.

In the EU 27 region, the species' area of occupancy is 1,608 km² and the extent of occurrence is 990,729 km².

The Silky Ringlet is a local species, restricted to (semi-) natural areas. It is reported extinct in Ukraine. Declines in distribution or population size have been reported in several countries in the past but recent data are sparse. In Romania, there are small and isolated populations that are threatened by overgrazing. It is widespread and more or less stable in the Alps of Switzerland and Germany.

It is classed as Endangered in Bulgaria and Croatia; Vulnerable in Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Poland, Romania and Slovakia; and Near Threatened in North Macedonia and Serbia (Maes et al. 2019). It is classed as Least Concern in Austria, France, Italy, Slovenia, and Switzerland.

The Silky Ringlet can be found on screes, sunny, rocky slopes and dry grasslands with scattered rocks. The butterflies often bask in the sun on stones, but, with their wings closed, they are hardly noticeable. They are rarely seen visiting flowers. The caterpillars are found on fescues (Festuca spp.), Alpine Meadow-grass (Poa alpina), P. minor and Blue Moor-grass (Sesleria albicans). The caterpillars take two years to develop. The main habitats are alpine and subalpine grasslands (47%), screes (33%), inland cliffs and exposed rocks (9%) (van Swaay et al. 2006).

The threats to this species are not well known but probably arise from the loss and scrubbing-over of its dry grassland habitats due to abandonment. In Romania, there are some small and isolated populations threatened by overgrazing. There is a future threat from climate change which is predicted to affect populations in Spain (Romo et al. 2023). Further research is needed.

All butterflies are collected to some extent. There is no specific trade information for this species.

In Bulgaria, Slovakia, Croatia and Poland, the species only occurs in protected areas. Important habitats should be protected and managed. The effects should be monitored by Butterfly Monitoring Schemes. Further research is needed into the ecology of the species and the causes of its decline.