English name:
Spotted Fritillary
Full scientific name:
Melitaea didyma (Esper, 1778)
Croatian name:
Crvena riđa
Flight Period and Life Cycle
1-2 broods per year. Overwinters as caterpillar.
Distribution in Croatia
The entire territory. Check the included map.
External Morphology Characteristics
The upper side of the wings is orange-red. In the postdiscal zone of the underside of the hindwing there is a series of orange spots in the form of an orange stripe. Similar to Melitaea trivia. Below is the comparison of the underside of hindwing:
(1) In zone S4 at the edge of the cell, Melitaea trivia has a visible short vein that is absent in Melitaea didyma.
(2) In the margin, the dark spots are rounded in Melitaea didyma and a bit triangular in Melitaea trivia.
Behavior
Imago feeds with nectar of various flowers.
Caterpillar Host Plants
Plantago, Veronica and Digitalis species.
Habitat
Nutrient-poor grasslands. Edges of woodlands and bushes. Elevations: 0-1300m.
Gallery
