Niobe
Fritillary (argynnis niobe)
2008 photos highlighted green. Click on any photo to go to an enlarged picture, or simply scroll down the page.
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| 8419_male_Valais, Switzerland_22Jul07 | 5956_female_Var_28May07 | 1845_female_Var_8Jun06 |
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| 6360_male_Var_3Jun07 | 11621_female_Var_27Jun08 |
This is very similar to the High Brown Fritillary (A. adippe) and the Dark Green Fritillary (A. aglaja), although niobe is slightly smaller and having less black markings on the upperside (or so I once thought - see below). It can be differentiated from adippe as the forewings are not slightly concave as they are in adippe. The best way to tell is by the underside, which is quite different, the veins usually being lined black and there is (allegedly) usually a small black spot within a small lighter spot near the unh base (see illustration below), although I have spent most of my time in the south of France and have very rarely seen niobe with the famed black spot. Indeed, I think every specimen I have seen in the south has been the southern form eris, which appears to be predominant in the south, although it is usually lacking the unh black lines, which seems to contradict the descriptions in most of the text books which state/suggest that the black lines are characteristic of niobe. There is possible confusion between eris and the southern form of adippe, cleodoxa, although I have generally found eris to be buff with some orange and cleodoxa to be more strongly orange-yellow. The niobe upf sex brands on v2 and v3 are quite narrow, whereas in adippe they are noticeable thicker; whether this holds true in all cases, I do not know. It is not uncommon in the south of France, but does not occur in the north of the country.
8419: I suspect this is a male niobe (rather than aglaja) based on the slightly lighter markings especially around the uph basal area and the marginal uph marks which are more crescent-shaped but more solid in aglaja. However, that post-discal uph spot is s4 looks heavy for niobe and suggests aglaja, but the very small spot in s6 is a strong indicator of niobe. The sex brands on upf v2 and v3 are quite slender but enough to confirm male, along with the body shape. Altitude 2200m.
5956: a typical female, quite large and with a slight sheen across both forewings. Altitude 220m.
1845: the forewings are quite straight, but not, I think, concave. The markings are (typically in the far south) quite light, much lighter than shown in T&L. The upf s4 spot in quite large for niobe, and absent on the uph. Altitude 140m.
6360: I suspect this is a male, based on what I could recall from seeing the upperside. The unh is a beautiful blend of beige and pale orange, with (unusually for the specimens I see in the far south of France) black edging to the markings, which adds to its appeal. The famed basal black spot is absent, but it is just possible to see two black pin-pricks within the yellow spot. It is the southern form eris. Altitude 140m.
11621: A rarity! A female with a clearly visible, if still small, black spot. Curiously, the veins are not lined black, in contrast to 6360 which has black veins but no black spot.
8419_male_Valais, Switzerland_22Jul07
