Aetherie Fritillary (Melitaea aetherie)
Photo © Albert Vliegenthart
| Family | Nymphalidae |
|---|
| Subfamily | Nymphalinae |
|---|
| Genus | Melitaea |
|---|
| Species | aetherie |
|---|
| Authority | (Hübner, [1826]) |
|---|
| English Name | Aetherie Fritillary |
|---|
| European Red List 2010 | Least Concern (LC) |
|---|
| EU 27 Red List 2010 | Least Concern (LC) |
|---|
| European Red List 2025 | Endangered (EN) |
|---|
| EU 27 Red List 2025 | Endangered (EN) |
|---|
| Habitats Directive | |
|---|
| Bern Convention | |
|---|
| CITES | |
|---|
Description
In Spain, the Aetherie Fritillary is found in clearings in disturbed Holm Oak (Quercus ilex) woodlands,
where its foodplants, thistles (Cirsium spp.) and knapweeds (Centaurea spp.), such as Star Thistle
(Centaurea calcitrapa), Brown Knapweed (C. jacea), and C. carratracensis grow. The female lays her eggs
in batches on the foodplants. The Aetherie Fritillary normally has one brood a year, and hibernates
as a caterpillar.
Distribution
Italy / Italy: Mainland / Italy: Sicily / Portugal / Portugal: Mainland / Spain / Spain: Mainland / United Kingdom: Gibraltar /
Larval Foodplants
| # | Order | Family | Genus | Species | Vernacular Name | Link | | 1 | Asterales | Asteraceae | Carthamus | caeruleus | | |
| 2 | Asterales | Asteraceae | Centaurea | calcitrapa | Red Star-thistle | |
| 3 | Asterales | Asteraceae | Cirsium | | Thistles | |
| 4 | Asterales | Asteraceae | Cynara | cardunculus | Globe Artichoke | |
| 5 | Asterales | Asteraceae | Cynara | cardunculus ssp. flavescens | | |
