Scientific Name: Brenthis daphne (Nymphalidae Heliconiiae).
English Name: Marbled Fritillary (Brush-footed butterfly family, Longwing sub-family).
French Name: Le Nacré de la ronce (='the bramble mother-of-pearled').
5 Key Characters:
- a moderately large butterfly (wingspan 50 mm).
- rather rounded wings compared to other fritillaries.
- bright tawny orange with large black spots on top.
- underneath washed with greeny-yellow and purple.
Lookalikes: Other fritillaries, especially the Lesser Marbled Fritillary B. ino, which is smaller but has bigger spots. The Marbled Fritillary is more brightly coloured than the Lesser Marbled Fritillary and the former has a discontinuous black border around the edge of the upper side of the hind wings, whereas the Lesser has a continuous black border.
Habitat: Woodland edges, hedges and bramble patches in hot situations.
Flight Period: May-June-July-August.
Caterpillar: Streaky grey with yellow tufts. Food plant brambles (Rubus canescens, Elmleaf Blackberry R. ulmifolius, Blackberry R. fruticosus).
Status: This is a southern species that is also widespread and abundant in the Touraine Loire Valley and Brenne.
Photographed by Loire Valley Nature:
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| Visiting bramble Rubus fruticosus agg flowers, showing the cream and purple underside. |
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| Visiting bramble Rubus fruticosus agg flowers. |
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