I. podalirius
         P. machaon
         P. aegeria
         M. didyma
         M. cinxia
         K. roxelana
         P. rapae
         S. pyri
         M. stellatarum

___________________

Unless otherwise noted, all pictures on this site were taken in Pelion, Greece, shown on the map below.

___________________

View images of the Common Toad, an ugly, bulky, but really sweet creature with an interesting... nightlife.

  Veggie of the Month

Learn about the Salsify, a beautiful plant, with edible and medicinal properties, that is currently blooming in Pelion.

  Cool Destination

Visit Mourtias, one of Pelion's most picturesque beaches on the Aegean coast.

  Exciting Site

Tour the Volos Archaeological Museum, a pretty century-old building, whose exhibits span a historical period of over 10 millennia!

  Month's Wallpaper

Download a fantastic picture of a rickety jetty in Lefokastron, Pelion, taken by Huw Jones.

Loading image. Please wait Glanville Fritillary (Melitaea cinxia), Spreding Wings :: 2001/06/02 :: Horton :: © A.Papadopoulos Glanville Fritillary (Melitaea cinxia), Spreding Wings :: 2001/06/02 :: Horton :: © A.Papadopoulos No image! No image! No image!

Glanville Fritillary

Melitaea cinxia

This butterfly is very common throughout most of Europe, except northern Scandinavia and southern Spain. In the UK, it is confined to the Isle of White and the Channel Islands.

The wingspan of M. cinxia ranges between 32 - 43 mm (1 1/3 - 1 2/3 in). Wings are light orange-brown, with dark brown-black markings. The main distinguishing feature is a set of five round black spots, in the underside submarginal band. Undersides are pale orange-brown, with cream markings and black spots. Sexes are very similar, although females tend to be somewhat larger and paler than males.

It prefers flowery meadows, up to around 2,000 m (6,500 ft). In the UK, it is confined to undercliffs and coastal areas.

There are two broods, flying May - June and August - September. Egg mass is laid on plantains, on which  larvae live gregariously in a communal silk tent (web), later hibernating in a tight cluster, within this tent. They separate when they become much larger, at which time they resemble plantain flower heads. In spring, larvae feed openly, sometimes moving together in a wide black blanket, and have been known to spread onto roads.

Top

Fact Sheet

Larva Food Plants
Plantain.

Flight Period
May - June & August - September.

Habitat
Flowery meadows; undercliffs and coastal areas in the UK.

Distribution
Most of Europe, except northern Scandinavia and southern Spain. Confined to the Isle of White and the Channel Islands in the UK.


Top

Taxonomy


Superkingdom: Eukaryota; Kingdom: Metazoa; Phylum: Arthropoda; Superclass: Hexapoda; Class: Insecta; Subclass: Neoptera; Order: Lepidoptera; Family: Nymphalidae; Genus: Melitaea; Species: cinxia

Top