Scarce Fritillary (Euphydryas maturna)
2011 photos highlighted in green. Click on any photo to go to an enlarged picture, or simply scroll down the page.
|
|
|
|
| 15942_male_Côte-d'Or_05Jun09 | 15933_female_Côte-d'Or_05Jun09 | 15954_female_Côte-d'Or_05Jun09 |
|
A very scarce fritillary (for once, the name is an accurate reflection) which in France only occurs in small colonies the north-west and its range is shrinking, mainly due to habitat destruction. It has quite a wide range in eastern Europe, though. Lafranchis gives the flight period as end-May to June (possibly early July) but when I first visited the site in Côte-d'Or on 8 June 2008 there were only two rather worn females flying, suggesting that it was almost the end of the flight period. |
I revisited the site on the same date in 2009 and there were (numerous) males flying but quite worn and some of the females were a little fresher, suggesting that 8 June is indeed near the end of the flight period. Its numbers can vary from year to year and it seems that 2009 was a good year. It seemed to nectar on shrubs rather than flowers. |
| ref | sex |
observations |
alt. m |
| 15942 | M |
even though this male is quite worn, the beautiful markings are still clearly visible. It would have been magnificent when fresh. |
320 |
| 15933 | F |
a female, notably larger than the male, and less contrast in the markings, but quite a typical female in my limited experience. |
320 |
| 15954 | F |
a female, distinctly more orange than 15933 and rather fresher. |
320 |
15933_female_Côte-d'Or_05Jun09
15954_female_Côte-d'Or_05Jun09
