Melitaea varia

Melitaea varia, the Grisons fritillary, is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae. It is found in the Alps at heights of 1,500–2,600 m (4,900–8,500 ft), especially in the Swiss cantons Valais, Engadin and Graubünden. It is also found in the Ortler region in South Tyrol, Alpes-Maritimes and Drôme in France, high areas of Tirol in Austria and high areas in the Apennine Mountains such as Abruzzo.

Melitaea varia
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Genus: Melitaea
Species:
M. varia
Binomial name
Melitaea varia
(Meyer-Dür, 1851)

Description

The wingspan is 24–28 mm.

Description from Seitz

varia Meyer-Dür (65b) is a smaller form from the higher Alps, recognizable by the markings on the hindwing beneath, which are pale yellow in the nymotypical form, being silvery white. In the male the markings in the median area of the forewing are usually somewhat obsolescent, the network formed by the veins and transverse lines being interrupted or paler before the apex. The female often shaded with blackish, the ground-colour having a tint of brass-colour or olive; the abdomen very heavy.[1]

Similar species
  • Melitaea parthenoides. This species is larger, with a more distinct trellis pattern, and has fox-red palpi that are usually dark brown in varia . In addition, it flies in low-lying regions, so that there is hardly any overlapping of the flight area.
  • Male
    Male
  • Male underside
    Male underside
  • Female
    Female
  • Female underside
    Female underside

Biology

There is one generation per year. The butterfly flies from June to August depending on the location. The larvae feed on various low-growing plants, including Plantago alpina, Gentiana verna and Gentiana acaulis.

References
  1. Seitz. A. in Seitz, A. ed. Band 1: Abt. 1, Die Großschmetterlinge des palaearktischen Faunengebietes, Die palaearktischen Tagfalter, 1909, 379 Seiten, mit 89 kolorierten Tafeln (3470 Figuren)Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
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