Melitaea phoebe

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Knapweed fritillary[1]
Male
Female
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Nymphalidae
Genus:	Melitaea
Species:	M. phoebe
Binomial name
Melitaea phoebe (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)[1]
Synonyms[1]
Papilio phoebe Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775

Melitaea phoebe, also known as the knapweed fritillary,^[1] is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae.^[2] It is found in the Palearctic realm, including most of Europe and North Africa, excluding the United Kingdom and Scandinavia. Previously, it also included Melitaea telona, which was recently revalidated as a distinct cryptic species^{[citation needed]}.

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Melitaea phoebe has a wingspan between 34–50 mm. Their forewings are more pointed than Melitaea telona, but equally variable in color and distinctive markings. The black markings are typically joined but can sometimes cover most of the wing or be significantly reduced. This species has a reddish-yellow submarginal lunate spot between the two median veins that reaches its vertex considerably farther into the disc than the other yellow lunate spots. This is the case on the forewing and the hindwing. The submarginal lunule between the 1 and 2 median veins projects farther basal than the others of the same row. ^[3] Wheeler (1903) gives a short description.^[4]

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  Male
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  Male underside
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  Female
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  Female underside

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  Pupa
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  Larva
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  Larva

M. phoebe is active from April to September, depending on the location. The larvae feed on Plantago and Centaurea species (including Centaurea jacea).^{[citation needed]}

M. phoebe is present in Europe, except in the northern regions such as England, Ireland, Northern France, Germany, Poland, and Scandinavia. It can also be found in North Africa (Morocco and Algeria), Turkey, Siberia, and Central Asia (Mongolia and China)^{[citation needed]}.

M. phoebe live in flowery meadows.^[5]

Named in the classical tradition. Phoebe is - in Greek mythology - one of the first generation of Titans, who were one set of sons and daughters of Uranus and Gaia.^{[citation needed]}

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