# Southern Heath Fritillary (*Melitaea celadussa*) The Southern Heath Fritillary is a beautiful butterfly with orange and black patterns on its wings. It loves to flutter around flowers and can often be seen in sunny meadows during spring and summer. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Southern Heath Fritillary](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Melitaea_athalia_MHNT_UT_2013_3_29_Urval_male.jpg&width=800) Photo: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Melitaea_athalia_MHNT_UT_2013_3_29_Urval_male.jpg) ## Appearance The Southern Heath Fritillary is a medium-sized butterfly with vibrant orange-brown wings featuring a distinctive checkerboard pattern of dark brown spots and lines. Its hindwings often show a paler band with crescent-shaped markings along the edge. The underside is similarly patterned but typically lighter, aiding in identification. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Lepidoptera - **Family:** Nymphalidae - **Genus:** Mellicta ## Interesting facts - Adult Southern Heath Fritillaries live for just a few weeks, but their journey starts months before! - Caterpillars of this butterfly grow by shedding their skin several times! - Its wings are covered in tiny, overlapping scales, creating their beautiful colors! - They can only taste with their feet, using special sensors to find food plants. ## Special abilities - **Nectar Sucker:** Southern Heath Fritillary can sip nectar from deep flowers using its long, straw-like proboscis, which helps them collect energy. - **Master of Disguise:** The caterpillars can blend seamlessly with their food plants, having dark, spiky bodies that help them avoid hungry predators. - **Rapid Escape Artist:** This butterfly can fly with quick, darting movements, allowing them to rapidly evade birds and other airborne threats. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 30-40 mm - **Size:** 15-20 mm - **Lifespan:** 7-14 days - **Flight Speed:** 12 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Adults drink nectar; caterpillars munch on leaves. - **Age differences:** Caterpillars eat plant leaves, while adults feed solely on flower nectar. - **Primary Foods:** Flower nectar, Plantain leaves, Violet leaves - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Hairy Violet (*Viola hirta*) — Caterpillars feed on its leaves. - **Pollinates:** [Creeping Thistle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/creeping-thistle) (*Cirsium arvense*) — Adults drink nectar from its flowers. - **Eaten by:** [Great Tit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-tit) (*Parus major*) — Birds can prey on adult butterflies. - **Eaten by:** Garden Cross Spider (*Araneus diadematus*) — Spiders often trap butterflies in webs. ## Traits - [Spotted](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spotted): Marked with spots or patches of a different color. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Be gentle and watch butterflies from a distance so they feel safe. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Southern Heath Fritillary? Compare the wing outline, spots, bands, eyespots and wing edges. The underside can look completely different from the top. Check for tails, the antennae and where the markings sit instead of relying on color alone. Butterfly Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Southern Heath Fritillary's wingspan? 30-40 mm ### How big is Southern Heath Fritillary? 15-20 mm ### How long does Southern Heath Fritillary live? 7-14 days ### How fast can Southern Heath Fritillary fly? 12 km/h ### What does Southern Heath Fritillary eat? Adults drink nectar; caterpillars munch on leaves. ### Where is Southern Heath Fritillary usually found? Grasslands ### How does Southern Heath Fritillary hunt? Foraging ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Southern Heath Fritillary: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/southern-heath-fritillary)