Glanville
Fritillary
2011 photos highlighted in green. Click on any photo to go to an enlarged picture, or simply scroll down the page.
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| 9965_male_Var_23Apr08 | 10446_male_Alpes-Maritimes_9May08 | 14939_female_Var_07May09 |
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| 17458_female_Hautes-Alpes_08Jul09 | 10309_female_Var_6May08 | 24454_female_Alpes-de-Haute-Provence_02May11 |
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| 24325_male_Var_24Apr11 | 15132_pair_Var_09May09 | 5142_female_Var_29Apr07 |
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Quite common in southern France, in fact it is widespread and often very common, contrasting with its range in the UK which is limited to the Isle of Wight and (allegedly) a mainland coastal location in Somerset. It is an early season butterfly, emerging in April and having all but disappeared in the far south by the end of May, although this is not true of others parts of France further north. |
The uppersides are very similar to the Mellicta family although it belongs to the Melitaea group. It is superficially similar to many other fritillaries, but the black spots in the uph post-discal spaces make it easily distinguishable from its relatives, at least in France. The undersides are very different to Mellicta species, showing why it belongs to the Melitaea family. This was the case until 2010 when the new European taxonomy was issued which groups the Mellicta fritillaries species under the Melitaea genus. |
| ref | sex |
observations |
alt. m |
| 9965 | M |
a very typical male upperside in terms of markings. |
230 |
| 10446 | M |
a rather dark male, the dark chequered borders contrasting nicely with the fresh white fringes. |
1000 |
| 14939 | F |
a female, based on the heavier markings and the roundness of what is just visible of the body. |
220 |
| 17458 | F |
a very dark female from high altitude. It is actually a mating pair, male just visible below. |
2000 |
| 10309 | F |
a typical female, slightly worn. |
185 |
| 24454 | PR | a mating pair, the female on top and with wings open. | 700 |
| 24325 | M | the underside of a freshly emerged male. | 220 |
| 15132 | PR |
a mating pair, female above. The female is more heavily marked and this seems to be consistent for most or all of the specimens I have seen. |
450 |
| 5142 | F |
a female, the pose is not territorial as in 5180, as it was roosting for the night. The submarginal black spots are quite heavy in the post-discal orange band, suggesting female. |
220 |
10446_male_Alpes-Maritimes_9May08
17458_female_Hautes-Alpes_08Jul09
24454_female_Alpes-de-Haute-Provence_02May11
