(Butler, 1877)
Dusky-winged Fritillary
Description:
The Dusky-winged Fritillary, occurs in the extreme north of Europe on open, grassy expanses, often on gentle slopes, sheltered from the prevailing westerly wind. It can occur in large numbers, in some places with hundreds of butterflies at once.
Before they mate, these butterflies behave in a characteristic way, with the male following the female, flying in short spurts, and seeming to make grasshopper-like jumps.
The eggs are laid on various plants, including Alpine Bistort (Polygonium viviparum), but it is not certain whether this is its food plant. The egg takes two years to develop into a butterfly.
Habitat:
Alpine grasslands
Heath and shrub
Mesophile grasslands
Sclerophyllous scrub
Humid grasslands
Similar species:
Unmistakable