Glanville Fritillary
Image: anoniem / Johan Teyler (Public domain)
Common NameGlanville Fritillary
Scientific NameMelitaea cinxia
FamilyNymphalidae
SubfamilyNymphalinae
Wingspan (mm)40
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorsorange-brown, dark brown
HabitatDry grasslands, coastal cliffs, heathland, open woodland clearings
Geographic RangeEurope, North Africa, temperate Asia
Host PlantsPlantago lanceolata, Veronica chamaedrys
Flight PeriodMay to July
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid in batches on host plants. Larvae are gregarious, feeding on leaves and overwintering in a silk web. Pupation occurs in spring.
Identification TipsLook for the reddish-orange underside with a clear pattern of dark brown spots and a series of submarginal dark crescents. The overall pattern is quite distinctive among European fritillaries.
Description
A medium-sized butterfly with a reddish-orange ground color on its wings, featuring a distinctive pattern of dark brown spots and lines on the underside, visible when at rest.
