Nickerl's Fritillary (Melitaea aurelia) | Species | ||||||||
 Male. Taken in the Velebits National Park, Croatia, on June 10th 2017. (1/400th sec at f16. © David Hastings) DescriptionFamily: Heliconiinae Wing span: 28 - 32mm This species has orange upper surfaces, with complete and regular black markings. It closely resembles Heath and Assmann's Fritllaries, but is smaller. It is widespread but rather local in C and E Europe. It is evaluated as Near Threatened due to habitat loss. Its habitat is hot and dry meadows, shrubby heaths, moors and damp peat bogs, and flowery mountain slopes up to 1900m. There is one brood per year, with a long flight period from early June to early August. Larvae feed mostly on Ribwort Plaintain (Plantago lanceolata). Sightings
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