Glanville Fritillary
ExploreInsects
Glanville Fritillary
Melitaea cinxia
The Glanville Fritillary is a beautiful butterfly with orange and black patterns on its wings. It loves to flutter around flowers and is often found in sunny meadows.
Habitat: Grasslands
Appearance
The Glanville Fritillary is a medium-sized butterfly with striking orange wings patterned with a checkered network of black lines and spots. Its underside is paler orange and cream, featuring rows of black dots within white-ringed orange spots, making it distinct from plainer butterflies.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderLepidopteraFamilyNymphalidaeGenusMelitaea
Category
InsectsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
Be the first to snap!
Interesting facts
Adult Glanville Fritillaries usually only live for about two weeks, flying quickly!
Baby Glanville Fritillaries (caterpillars) huddle together in a silk tent to stay safe!
Their eggs are laid in neat stacks, sometimes over a hundred at once!
These butterflies have tiny bristles on their legs that help them taste their food!
Special abilities
Ability
Overwintering Wanderers
Glanville Fritillary larvae can overwinter in groups inside silken webs, which helps them survive cold temperatures until spring.
Ability
Host Plant Hunter
Glanville Fritillary butterflies can specifically locate Ribwort Plantain plants to lay their eggs, ensuring food for their caterpillars.
Ability
Solar Powered Flight
Glanville Fritillary has dark markings that help absorb sunlight, giving them energy to fly even on cooler days.
Measurements & details
- Wingspan
- 35-50 mm
- Size
- 15-22 mm
- Lifespan
- 10-20 days
- Leg Count
- 6
Diet & Feeding
Adults sip flower nectar for energy; caterpillars munch on plant leaves to grow big.
Age differences: Adults feed on nectar, while larvae (caterpillars) feed exclusively on specific host plant leaves.
Primary Foods
- flower nectar
- Plantago lanceolata
- Veronica spicata
- Cirsium arvense
Foraging Method
- Foraging
Ecological connections
depends on
Ribwort Plantain
Plantago lanceolata
Larvae eat leaves of this plant.
depends on
Spiked Speedwell
Veronica spicata
A secondary host plant for its caterpillars.
eats
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Great Tit
Parus major
Feeds on butterfly larvae and adults.
pollinates
Creeping Thistle
Cirsium arvense
Adult butterflies visit for nectar.
Traits
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Grassland
Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
Herbivorous
This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
Pollinator Magnet
Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
Diurnal
Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.
Migratory
Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability.
Pollinator
Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.
Also known as
Glanville Butterfly
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always watch butterflies from a distance and don't try to catch them.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Glanville Fritillary's wingspan?
35-50 mm
How big is Glanville Fritillary?
15-22 mm
How long does Glanville Fritillary live?
10-20 days
What does Glanville Fritillary eat?
Adults sip flower nectar for energy; caterpillars munch on plant leaves to grow big.
Where is Glanville Fritillary usually found?
Grasslands
How does Glanville Fritillary hunt?
Foraging
How many legs does Glanville Fritillary have?
6
Snap Map
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