Melitaea didyma

Melitaea didyma
both in the Republic of Macedonia
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Genus: Melitaea
Species: M. didyma
Binomial name
Melitaea didyma
(Esper, 1778)[1]

Melitaea didyma, the spotted fritillary or red-band fritillary, is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae.

Description

Melitaea didyma is a medium-sized butterfly with a wingspan reaching 35–50 millimetres (1.4–2.0 in). The upperside of the wings is bright orange brown with dark brown drawings arranged in rows, quite variable in quantity and size. Sometimes the color of the females is duller orange, shaded with gray green. The underside of the wings is checkered pale yellow and pale orange. M. didyma has seasonal forms and sexual dimorphism. This butterfly flies from March to October depending on the location. This species has two or three generations and overwinters as young caterpillar.

The larvae feed on various plants, including Linaria, Plantago lanceolata, Veronica, Centaurea jacea and Digitalis purpurea.[2]

Distribution

It is found in southern and central Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, central Asia and Siberia. It is absent from northern Europe (England, Ireland, Northern France, Germany, Poland and Scandinavia).[2]

Habitat

Melitaea didyma prefers flowery and grassy areas, meadows and roadsides.

Subspecies

  • Melitaea didyma didyma
  • Melitaea didyma elavar Fruhstorfer, 1917
  • Melitaea didyma kirgisica Bryk, 1940
  • Melitaea didyma neera Fischer de Waldheim, 1840
  • Melitaea didyma occidentalis Staudinger, 1861
  • Melitaea didyma turkestanica Sheljuzhko, 1929
  • Melitaea didyma ambra Higgings, 1941[2]

References

  1. ↑ Biolib
  2. 1 2 3 "Melitaea Fabricius, 1807" at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms


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