Melitaea didyma

"Spotted Fritillary" redirects here. For the plant, see Fritillaria atropurpurea.
Melitaea didyma
Underside
Lateral view
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Genus: Melitaea
Species: M. didyma
Binomial name
Melitaea didyma
Esper, 1778[1]

The Spotted Fritillary or Red-band Fritillary (Melitaea didyma) is a butterfly of the Nymphalidae family.

Description

Melitaea didyma is a medium size butterfly with a wingspan reaching 35–50 millimetres (1.4–2.0 in). The upperside of the wings is bright orange-brown with dark brown drawings arranged in rows, quite variable in quantity and size. Sometimes the color of the females is duller orange, shaded with gray-green. The underside of the wings is checkered pale yellow and pale orange. M. didyma has a seasonal and sexual dimorphism. This butterfly flies from March to October depending on the location. This species has two or three generations and overwinters as young caterpillar.

The larvae feed on various plants, including Linaria, Plantago lanceolata, Veronica, Centaurea jacea and Digitalis purpurea.[2]

Distribution

It is found primarily in Southern and Central Europe. It is also present in North Africa, in the Middle East (Turkey, Iran to Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, northern Pakistan), in Siberia and in Central Asia (west China and Mongolia). In North Africa this species lives in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. It is absent in the northern Europe (England, Ireland, Northern France, Germany, Poland and Scandinavia).[2]

Habitat

Melitaea didyma prefers flowery and grassy areas, meadows and roadsides.

Subspecies

Gallery

References

  1. ↑ Biolib
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Funet.fi

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Melitaea didyma.