Nickerl, 1850
Nickerl's Fritillary
Description:
Nickerl's Fritillary occurs on open, dry grasslands and heaths on calcareous slopes and is very heat-tolerant.
The female deposits her eggs in clusters on the underside of the leaves of its food plant Ribwort Plantain (Plantago lanceolata). The caterpillars feed and also hibernate in communal silken nests. They pupate low down in the vegetation.
Nickerl's Fritillary has one or two generations a year, depending on the geographical location and altitude of the habitat.
Habitat:
Dry siliceous grasslands
Dry calcareous grasslands
Mesophile grasslands
Humid grasslands
Similar species:
Melitaea diamina
Melitaea athalia
Melitaea britomartis
Melitaea varia