Aetherie Fritillary

Aetherie Fritillary
Melitaea aetherea figure in Seitz
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Nymphalidae
Genus:	Melitaea
Species:	M. aetherie
Binomial name
Melitaea aetherie (Hübner, 1826)[verification needed]
Synonyms
Melitaea aetherea (lapsus) Melitaea aetheria (lapsus) Melitaea aetheriae (lapsus)

The Aetherie Fritillary, Melitaea aetherie is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found locally in mountain areas of North Africa and very locally in southern Spain, southern Portugal, Sicily and southern Italy.

The insect flies from mid April until the end of May with a second generation in September in Italy. The habitat is open grasslands and flowery meadows. The larvae feed on various Centaurea Knapweeds. The flowers of Centaurea also attract the nectar-feeding adults.

External links

• Euro Butterflies