False Heath Fritillary

Description:

The False Heath Fritillary is one of the more distinctive of the smaller fritillaries. On the dorsal view the hindwing is dark, with only a few small spots of orange remaining, forming ghostly rows. This is reflected in the French name for this butterfly, Mélitée noirâtre. Another diagnostic feature is on the ventral view: small black spots are present inside the arched black lunules on the post-discal spots; this is visible on the second shot.

Habitat:

Wet soil in an alpine ravine, alt. 1300 m. Found in the Derborence area, a high biodiversity site with two different climates; in the lower part where this spotting was made the climate is continental, dry and hot. http://www.derborence.ch/sommaire/englis...

Notes:

Found from low levels to high mountain meadows. Distribution: Center and East of Europe, South Siberia, North East China Chine, Korea and Japan.