Spotted Fritillary (Melitaea didyma)
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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| 18267_male_Isere_12Jul09 | 6554_male_Var_6Jun07 | 15347_male_Bouches du Rhone_22May09 |
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| 13733_female_Vaucluse_23Aug08 | 15016_female_Var_07May09 | 9393_female_Var_30Aug07 |
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| 18197_female_Isere_12Jul09 | 14944_female_Var_07May09 | 16452_male_Var_22Jun09 |
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| 2890_male_Var_22Jul06 | 9394_female_Var_30Aug07 | 16461_female_Var_22Jun09 |
A very common, especially in the south, and extremely variable, fritillary. The male is usually a strong shade of orange-red but can be almost brick red. The female is paler and often suffused greyish and more heavily marked. Most, if not all, of these shots are of the form meridionalis, which is the normal form in southern Europe, characterised in the male by the fiery red colour and strongly crescented black uph submarginal spots which are not attached to the marginal band, and generally cleaner feel. The female can occur in darker forms especially at altitude.
18267: a heavily marked male, probably intermediate between the nominate form and meridionalis. Altitude 1120m.
6554: a beautifully marked male of the form meridionalis, the strong black borders contrasting well with the bright red-orange of this fresh specimen. Altitude 220m.
15437: another male of the form meridionalis. Altitude 35m.
13733: another very typical female, very similar to 9393. Altitude 750m.
15016: a heavily marked female, but still quite orange, especially on the uph. Altitude 220m.
9393: a female, naturally and unusually pale, not through wear. This is reflected (literally!) in the underside 9394. Altitude 780m.
18197: the dark form of the female, with only a trace of orange. Altitude 1200m.
14944: a very dark female, unusually from a lowland location. The right forewing is deformed and it appears that the right antenna is deformed in the same way. Altitude 220m.
16452: a male underside. Altitude 920m.
2890: a male underside, a beautiful combination of cream and orange markings, with strong submarginal black crescents matching the upperside pattern.
9394: the underside of 9393, as delicately marked as the upperside. Fabulous light orange markings on a pale cream base. Altitude 780m.
16461: a female underside. Altitude 920m.
15347_male_Bouches du Rhone_22May09
