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Photo: Janine Martin |
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UK
Safari Tip:
To help you identify British butterflies there's a beautifully illustrated
fold out chart in the Nature Shop - click
here
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Latin name: Melitaea cinxia
Size: Wingspan approximately 38mms.
Distribution: Scarce. Found on the Isle of Wight and The Channel
Islands.
Months seen: May to June.
Habitat: Fields with fairly short grasses - often close to the sea.
Generally on sandy soils.
Food: Nectar. The caterpillars feed on plantains.
Special features: Named after Eleanor Glanville, the 18th century
amateur naturalist. The hind wings feature a row of black dots inside orange
spots which make it distinctive from similar species like the Marsh
Fritillary.
 The
undersides of the wings are decorated just as beautifully as the upper surfaces.
The black caterpillars, which have short hairs along their bodies, and brown heads,
feed on plantains. The butterfly is
sometimes called the 'Plantain Fritillary on account of this. They can sometimes
be found basking on top of a silk web which they spin over their foodplants.
UK Safari Butterfly Section
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