A very attractive and rather variable fritillary, usually (but not always) found at altitude. It is easily recognised because the uph black/dark brown has almost completely smothered the orange, reducing the orange to a series of disconnected spots mainly in the submarginal and post-discal areas.

The underside is characterized by the post-discal series of marks having (usually) a black spot and dark edging, although 18345 is obviously an exception to this.

observations

a male, in typical territorial pose, ready to see off all-comers. The darker areas are almost black, quite apparent in flight, contrasting well with the few bright orange marks.

a VERY dark male, although the dark uph is set off by the white margins.

a quite heavily marked male, although not quite in the same league as 12775.

this shot was taken in the Pyrénées and I think it must be diamina; the new Lafranchis book carries an illustration of the diamina form vernetensis from the Eastern Pyrénées, and this matches it exactly - the key-shaped discal spot in s1b of the upf is characteristic.

a female, larger and generally lighter than most males. It looks very much like a dark Heath Fritillary (Mellicta athalia) although on balance I believe it to be diamina.

a male, in which the unh post-discal spots are faint unfilled circles rather than the solid black dots normal of diamina.

a female underside, the dark-filled unh post-discal lunules being typical of diamina.