| Family | Nymphalidae |
|---|---|
| Subfamily | Nymphalinae |
| Genus | Melitaea |
| Species | varia |
| Authority | Herrich-Schäffer, 1851 |
| English Name | Grisons Fritillary |
| European Red List 2010 | Least Concern (LC) |
|---|---|
| EU 27 Red List 2010 | Least Concern (LC) |
| European Red List 2025 | Least Concern (LC) |
| EU 27 Red List 2025 | Least Concern (LC) |
| Habitats Directive | |
| Bern Convention | |
| CITES |
The Grisons Fritillary is a small fritillary that breeds on flower-rich sub-alpine and alpine grasslands and on sunny, grassy slopes. The adult butterflies visit mostly low plants for nectar, and the males are also seen on damp patches, excrement, and dead animals. The female lays her eggs in clusters on the foodplant. The caterpillars have been found on Alpine Plantain (Plantago alpina) and Achillea species, but Spring Gentian (Gentiana verna) and Stemless Trumpet Gentian (G. acaulis) are also named as foodplants. The caterpillars hibernate, pupating in June or July of the following year, the pupa usually hanging from a stone. However, at higher altitudes, development is slower, taking nearly two years, and they hibernate twice.
Austria / France / France: Mainland / Italy / Italy: Mainland / Switzerland /