Heath Fritillary (Mellicta athalia)
2009 photos highlighted in yellow. Click on any photo to go to an enlarged picture, or simply scroll down the page.
|
|
|
|
| 15447_male_Var_24May09 | 8017_male_Isere_6Jul07 | 10614_male_Var_19May08 |
|
|
|
|
| 11869_male_Alpes Maritimes_1Jul08 | 17028_female_Var_30Jun09 | 15383_male_Var_23May09 |
|
|
|
|
| 11042_female_Var_3Jun08 | 11291_female_Rhone_15Jun08 | 11207_male_Rhone_15Jun08 |
|
|
|
|
| 18716_male_Savoie_16Jul09 | 11022_female_Var_1Jun08 | 11950_female_Alpes de Haute Provence_5Jul08 |
A rare and localised butterfly in England, but common and widely distributed in most of France, especially in the south, where it is often the most common species. It is also subject to considerable variation, which can make differentiation from its close Mellicta cousins, especially the Meadow Fritillary (M. parthenoides) and the Provencal Fritillary (M. dejone), very difficult.
15447: a heavily marked male, puddling. Altitude 220m.
8017: a male, with very heavy black borders that may be altitude-related. This looks quite orange-red and rather dejone-like. Altitude 1500m.
10614: a lightly marked small male in an unusual but typical pose (for this population) of the wings widely separated. Altitude 230m.
11869: a similar pose to 10614, but rather dark upf markings. Altitude 1400m.
17028: a female which I believe had just emerged and was drying its wings before its maiden flight. Altitude 920m.
15383: a male, puddling. It seemed rather more red-orange than most athalia. Altitude 140m.
11042: a female, another example of the variability of athalia, dark and quite pale orange colouring. Altitude 250m.
11291: a female, more typically orange, with uph discal line missing (a pointer to parthenoides) and a heavy black uph border offset by chequered white fringes (also I feel a pointer to parthenoides), but on balance I feel it is athalia. Altitude 370m.
11207: a male underside. Altitude 165m.
18716: a male, with large clean red spots in the unh post-discal series of lunules. Altitude 1850m.
11022: a pale female underside with rather indistinct but heavy black lines. Altitude 185m.
11950: a more typical female underside with rather more colour contrast. Altitude 1580m.
11869_male_Alpes Maritimes_1Jul08
11950_female_Alpes de Haute Provence_5Jul08
