Melitaea parthenoides

Melitaea parthenoides
Melitaea parthenoides
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Genus: Melitaea
Species: M. parthenoides
Binomial name
Melitaea parthenoides
Keferstein, 1851
Synonyms
  • Mellicta parthenoides (Keferstein, 1851)

The Meadow Fritillary (Melitaea parthenoides) is a butterfly of the Nymphalidae family. Note that the common name Meadow Fritillary, is also used for the North American species Boloria bellona. It is found in south-western Europe, more specifically on the Iberian Peninsula, south-western France, parts of the italian Alps and southern and south-western Germany and a few regions of Switzerland.

The wingspan is 28-34 mm. In dry, favourable climates, adults are on wing in two generations, from May to June and from August to September. On high altitudes, there is one generation from June to July.

The larvae feed on Plantago species, but mainly Plantago lanceolata.

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