(Rottemburg, 1775)
Lesser Marbled Fritillary
Description:
The Lesser Marbled Fritillary occurs on damp to wet, flower-rich, rough vegetation, growing in the shelter of woodland. This can be situated in a valley, or on the banks of a stream, in abandoned meadows and swampy habitats. Because of changes in agricultural practices, this butterfly has been able to expand into some abandoned wet meadows. After continuing succession, these meadows will get overgrown by scrub and become unsuitable for the Lesser Marbled Fritillary.
Eggs are laid singly or in pairs on the leaves and flowerheads of Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria), Goat's-beard (Aruncus dioicus), Great Burnet (Sanguisorba officinalis) and brambles (Rubus spp.). It hibernates either as an egg or a caterpillar. The caterpillars feed at night, and in bad weather, also during the day. They pupate on the food plant.
The Lesser Marbled Fritillary is single-brooded.
Habitat:
Mesophile grasslands
Humid grasslands
Similar species:
Brenthis daphne
Brenthis hecate