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 UK 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 of 34–50 mm. The forewing is much more pointed than in the previous species but equally variable in both colour and distinctive markings. The black markings are usually united, in some cases even covering nearly the whole wing, but in other cases may be strongly reduced. A characteristic feature of this species is the reddish yellow submarginal lunate spot situated between the two median veins that reaches with its vertex considerably farther into the disc than the other yellow lunate spots. This is especially the case on the forewing, but also on 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 is also 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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