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Melitaea phoebe, also known as the knapweed fritillary,[1] is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae.[2] It is found in the Palearctic realm, including most of Europe and North Africa, excluding the United Kingdom and Scandinavia. Previously, it also included Melitaea telona, which was recently revalidated as a distinct cryptic species[citation needed].
| Knapweed fritillary[1] | |
|---|---|
_underside_Bulgaria.jpg)
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| Male | |
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| Female | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Nymphalidae |
| Genus: | Melitaea |
| Species: | M. phoebe
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| Binomial name | |
| Melitaea phoebe | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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Papilio phoebe Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775 | |
Description
editThis section may require copy editing. (March 2024) |
Melitaea phoebe butterflies have a wingspan of 34 to 50 mm. Their forewings are more pointed than the eastern knapweed fritillary, but are equally variable in color and distinctive markings. The black markings on Melitaea phoebe are usually joined but can sometimes cover the majority of the wing or be significantly suppressed. This species features a reddish-yellow submarginal lunate spot between the two median veins that reaches its vertex, considerably farther into the disc than the other yellow lunate spots. This pattern is present on both the forewings and the hindwings. Additionally, the submarginal lunule between the 1st and 2nd median veins projects farther basal than the other lunules of the same row.[3] Wheeler (1903) gives a short description.[4]
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Male -
Male underside -
Female -
Female underside
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Pupa -
Larva -
Larva
Biology
editMelitaea phoebe is active from April to September, depending on the location. The larvae feed on Plantago and Centaurea species (including Centaurea jacea).[citation needed]
Distribution and habitat
editMelitaea phoebe is present in Europe, except in the northern regions such as England, Ireland, Northern France, Germany, Poland, and Scandinavia. It can also be found in North Africa: Morocco and Algeria, Turkey, Siberia, and Central Asia in Mongolia and northern China. In France it's present in all departments except part of those bordering the Channel and the North Sea, from Finistère to Pas-de-Calais. It is also absent from Corsica and some departments of Île-de-France[citation needed].
M. phoebe inhabits flowery meadows.[5]
Etymology
editNamed in the classical tradition, Phoebe is—in Greek mythology—one of the first generation of Titans, the children of Uranus and Gaia.[citation needed] The species Melitaea phoebe was described by entomologists Johann Nepomuk Cosmas, Michael Denis and Ignaz Schiffermüller in 1779, under the initial name Papilio phoebe.
References
edit
- ^ a b c d e Melitaea phoebe[permanent dead link]. IUCN Red List.
- ^ Savela, Markku. "Melitaea phoebe (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)". Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
- ^ Seitz. A. in Seitz, A. ed. Band 1: Abt. 1, Die Großschmetterlinge des palaearktischen Faunengebietes, Die palaearktischen Tagfalter, 1909, 379 Seiten, mit 89 kolorierten Tafeln (3470 Figuren).
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ Wheeler, George. The butterflies of Switzerland and the alps of central Europe. London: Elliot Stock, 1903.
- ^ Mazza, Giuseppe (7 August 2008). "Melitaea phoebe". Monaco Nature Encyclopedia. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
