Scarce Fritillary (Euphydryas maturna)
2009 photos highlighted in yellow. Click on any photo to go to an enlarged picture, or simply scroll down the page.
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| 15942_male_Cote d'Or_05Jun09 | 15933_female_Cote d'Or_05Jun09 | 15954_female_Cote 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 it's range is shrinking, mainly due to habitat destruction. It has quite a wide range in eastern Europe, though. I would never have chanced upon it, and would not have seen it had I not been told about this specific site. Lafranchis gives the flight period as end May to June (possibly early July) but when I first visited the site in Cote 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.
15942: even though this male is quite worn, the beautiful markings are still clearly visible. It would have been magnificent when fresh. Altitude 320m.
15933: a female, notably larger than the male, and less contrast in the markings, but quite a typical female in my limited experience. Altitude 320m.
15954: a female, distinctly more orange than 15933 and rather fresher. Altitude 320m.
15933_female_Cote d'Or_05Jun09
15954_female_Cote d'Or_05Jun09
