Caucasian Spotted Fritillary
Common NameCaucasian Spotted Fritillary
Scientific NameMelitaea caucasica
FamilyNymphalidae
SubfamilyNymphalinae
Wingspan (mm)40
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorsorange, black, brown
HabitatMountain meadows, grassy slopes, forest clearings
Geographic RangeCaucasus region (Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, parts of Russia, Turkey, Iran)
Host PlantsPlantago, Veronica
Flight PeriodJune to August
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesUndergoes complete metamorphosis; eggs are laid on host plants, larvae feed on leaves and typically overwinter, pupating in spring to emerge as adults in summer.
Identification TipsLook for the specific arrangement of black markings on an orange background, particularly the postdiscal and submarginal bands, and its occurrence within the Caucasus mountain range.
Description
A medium-sized fritillary butterfly characterized by an intricate pattern of dark brown to black spots and bands on an orange-ochre ground color across its wings.
