Titania's Fritillary or Purple Bog Fritillary - Nacré porphyrin

Description:

This striking small fritillary is distinguished by its underside, a mosaic of pinks, reds, orange and and purples with black triangular markings at the edge of the hindwind. In Europe it is only found in isolated populations in the Alps, the south of Finland and Latvia, Poland and the Balkans. First spotting on Project Noah!

Habitat:

A small clearing in a Swiss stone pine forest (Pinus cembra), alt. 2200 m ASL. The foreground on the last picture shows the habitat.

Notes:

This butterfly loves thistles, as seen here. First found resting in the shade, I waited for the sun to hit the spot for the butterfly to open its wings. Global distribution: Central Europe to Siberia and Altaï. This butterfly is a specialists of tree-rich wetlands, and together with the availability of its larva food plants forests are an important habitat requirement for this species. Listed as endangered species in the red data book of Switzerland