Heath fritillary Melitaea athalia

Features

Usually flies from May to August, in one extended generation or even in two. It loves to sit on flowering plants, where males and females often attract partners by spreading their wings.

Species	Insect
Living space	Bush crowns, Meadow
Size	34-38 mm

Description

Adults: the upper side of the wings with pronounced dark and orange bands, which are more or less closed and in the same shades (in females, some bands may be lighter, others darker). The central part of the hind wings can be several times slightly darker. All spots are without spots. The underside of the hind wings is whitish, usually with two orange bands, with no dots along the basal part. The outer edge of the wings is the same color as the peripheral band of crescent-shaped spots (in similar species the outer edge of the wings is yellowish or at least slightly darker). The coloration is very variable! The caterpillars are black with white spots, overgrown with large, orange-colored, pointed warts and black bristles. They feed on a variety of plants. The beetle is hanging down, white, black-spotted and with yellow patterns.