Grison's Fritillary (Melitaea varia) | Species | ||||||||||||
 Male. Taken in the Vercors Natural Park, France, on July 22nd 2018. (1/500th sec at f14. © David Hastings)  Female. Taken in the Vercors Natural Park, France, on July 20th 2018. (1/320th sec at f13. © David Hastings)  Underside. Taken in the Vercors Natural Park, France, on July 22nd 2018. (1/200th sec at f10. © David Hastings) DescriptionFamily: Heliconiinae Wing span: 24 - 28mm Grison's Fritillary is a rare and local mountain species which is endemic to Europe. The male's upperside is bright orange with thin regular markings. There is a dumbbell-shaped mark on the forewing hind edge. Its markings are very variable. It is restricted to the Alps from SE France to Austria, and the Apennines in Italy. It breeds in subalpine and alpine meadows, sheltered mountain slopes and hollows, usually above 1500m. There is one brood between late June and late August. Larvae feed on Plantago alpina and Gentiana species. Sightings
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