| Heath Fritillary (Mellicta athalia (Rottemburg, 1775)) |
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Scientific name: Mellicta athalia (Rottemburg, 1775) Common name: Heath Fritillary Other names: May Fritillary French name: Mélitée du mélampyre, Damier athalie Order: Lepidoptera Suborder: Rhopalocera Family: Nymphalidae Subfamily: Nymphalinae Wingspan: 34-46 mm. Biotope: Meadows and clearings, prefers damp places. Geographic area: Europe and Asia east to Japan. The May Fritillary population is decreasing in the northern part of its range. Flight time: May to September for the areas where there are two broods. Number of generations : 1-2 Caterpillar: Dark grey with whitish spots and a whitish lateral stripe. It bears numerous orange spines with white tips. Host plant: Common Cow-wheat (Melampyrum pratense), Ribwort Plantain (Plantago lanceolata), Broadleaf Speedwell (Veronica austriaca). |
The Heath Fritillary only lives during about ten days after emerging as an imago. The upper side of the wings is dark orange, strongly marked with black especially on males. The under side of the fore wings and of the hind wings shows an outer border of yellow lunules crossed by an internal black line. This point, particularly on the under side of the fore wings, is a good identification key to tell apart from the numerous similar species. The under side of the hind wings shows a dark tawny stripe where you can see orange marks circled with black. The Heath Fritillary over winters as a caterpillar. |
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It is difficult to tell the Heath Fritillary apart with the only view of the upper side of the wings. Fortunately, I have been able to shoot a picture of the under side of the wings of this one. |
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If I am not mistaken, the main keys enabling to tell the Heath Fritillary apart (black line inside the border of yellow lunules and orange marks, circled with black, in the postdiscal stripe) are visible on this picture. |
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I am gathering nectar and I am warming my wings in the sunshine at the same time. |
André Bon August 2009