Appearance
"Melitaea didyma" is a medium size butterfly with a wingspan reaching 35–50 millimetres. The upperside of the wings is bright orange-brown with dark brown drawings arranged in rows, quite variable in quantity and size. Sometimes the color of the females is duller orange, shaded with gray-green. The underside of the wings is checkered pale yellow and pale orange. "M. didyma" has a seasonal and sexual dimorphism. This butterfly flies from March to October depending on the location. This species has two or three generations and overwinters as young caterpillar.The larvae feed on various plants, including "Linaria", "Plantago lanceolata", "Veronica", "Centaurea jacea" and "Digitalis purpurea".
Naming
* "Melitaea didyma didyma"⤷ "Melitaea didyma elavar" Fruhstorfer, 1917;
⤷ "Melitaea didyma kirgisica" Bryk, 1940;
⤷ "Melitaea didyma neera" Fischer de Waldheim, 1840;
⤷ "Melitaea didyma occidentalis" Staudinger, 1861;
⤷ "Melitaea didyma turkestanica" Sheljuzhko, 1929
⤷ "Melitaea didyma ambra" Higgings, 1941
Distribution
It is found primarily in Southern and Central Europe. It is also present in North Africa, in the Middle East, in Siberia and in Central Asia. In North Africa this species lives in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. It is absent in the northern Europe.
Habitat
"Melitaea didyma" prefers flowery and grassy areas, meadows and roadsides.References:
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