Butterfly ID
Get the free app
Field guide · Denmark
Brush-footed butterflies · Denmark

Lesser Marbled Fritillary

Brenthis ino

Lesser Marbled Fritillary is rare in Denmark. Wing span: 33-42 mm. The species is observed in a single generation from June to July. Lesser Marbled Fritillary is particularly associated with nutrient-rich marshes and meadows with buttercup and grass/herb vegetation.

Status in this countryRare in DenmarkEN (Endangered)
Lesser Marbled Fritillary

Flight period

The species is observed in one generation from June to July.

Habitat

Lesser Marbled Fritillary is particularly associated with nutrient-rich marshes and meadows featuring cattails and grass/herb vegetation. The locations are often small and very restricted, and are typically characterised by extensive grazing, with wet meadows featuring scattered rushes, possibly.

Identifying features

Wingspan: 33-42 mm. The upperside is reddish-brown with small spots and a distinct black border along both forewings and hindwings, while the underside features light yellowish pearly spots and a violet sheen across the central area of the hindwing underside.

Similar species

Lesser Marbled Fritillary can be confused with all the other small fritillaries, but is characterised by its unique pattern on the underside of the hindwing, where there are no black spots, the clear, broad, continuous black marginal band on the upperside, and the small, indistinct marginal spots.

Distribution

Lesser Marbled Fritillary was once a relatively common butterfly in Funen, Bornholm, most of Zealand, and with some populations on Lolland-Falster-Møn. From Jutland, the species is known from Femmøller (Mols Mountains) in 1975, Rosenvold (Vejle Fjord) from 1975-1978, and Trelde Næs (also in the vicinity).

Biology

Lesser Marbled Fritillary flies in June/July, when the moors have become warm and the larvae emerge. The eggs are laid individually on the leaves of Filago vulgaris.