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Field guide · Denmark
Brush-footed butterflies · Denmark

Heath fritillary

Melitaea athalia

Heath fritillary is rare in Denmark. Wingspan: 35-45 mm. Flight typically begins in late May to early July. In Denmark, it is typically found in open woodland clearings and woodland meadows.

Status in this countryRare in DenmarkEN (Endangered)
Heath fritillary

Flight period

The flight typically begins in late May to early July. A very rare and scarce 2.

Habitat

In Denmark, typically found in open woodland clearings and woodland meadows.

Identifying features

Wingspan: 35-45 mm. The dark upperside of the wings is covered in small orange patches, on both the forewings and hindwings.

Similar species

Heath fritillary can be easily confused with Glanville fritillary, false heath fritillary, and to some extent, marsh fritillary. Glanville fritillary has spots in the outer field of the hind wings (the second outermost row of orange fields), which heath fritillary does not have, and also, the upper side of the wing is lighter and more ochre-orange, whereas heath fritillary is more brownish.

Distribution

Heath fritillary has previously had many thriving populations in North and Central Zealand, but disappeared from Central Zealand in 1959 (Skellebjerg) and from North Zealand in 1987 (Gribskov). It previously had thriving populations in (especially) the Asserbo and Tisvilde areas (until 1973), Gribskov (until 1987), and in Jægerspris Nordskov (until 1978).

Biology

In their search for females, the males fly low over the vegetation in a zigzag pattern, while occasionally stopping to feed, on flower nectar. Where the species occurs, it is often found in abundance.