Melitaea ignasiti
         
no vernacular name  
La Mélitée catalane  
           
 
 
   
1] male of Melitaea ignasiti, the day it emerged from the chrysalis shown in 24] & 25] below - 28/07/2020   2] same specimen as 1]
 
 
       
       
   
3] same specimen as 1]   4] same specimen as 1]  
       
       
   
5] other male, the day it emerged from the chrysalis shown in 26] - 29/07/2020
 
  6] closer view of the specimen in 1], showing the submarginal chevrons on the upperside which is an identification criterion (essential difference with Melitaea didyma's wing pattern)  
       
       
   
7] closer view of the underside of the specimen in 1], showing the extra vein across the cell which is an identification criterion, albeit not too easy to see (essential difference with Melitaea didyma's wing pattern)
 
  8] closer view of the underside of the specimen in 1], showing the black triangles on the margin (dark blue arrows) and the arch-shaped black lunules which form a continuous line (bright blue arrows). The lattest criterion is important for separating this species from Melitaea didyma  
       
       
   
9] female of Melitaea ignasiti alt.1220m - Pyrénées orientales (France) - 28/05/2024   10] same specimen as 9]
 
 
       
       
   
11] close-up of the genitalia (of the specimen shown in 1])   12] close-up of the genitalia (of the specimen shown in 1])  
       
       
   
13] close-up of the genitalia (of the specimen shown in 1]) - Ventral view.   14] close-up of the genitalia (of the specimen shown in 1]) - Ventral view.  
       
       
 
15] caterpillar of Melitaea ignasiti, found on the underside of a leaf of Verbascum lychnitis, which is the host-plant - Pyrénées orientales alt.1210m (France) - 18/07/2020  
       
       
   
16] same larva as 15] - Pyrénées orientales alt.1210m (France) - 18/07/2020   17] same larva as 15], close-up of the head - Pyrénées orientales alt.1210m (France) - 18/07/2020  
       
       
   
18] same larva as 15] - 19/07/2020

 
  19] a second caterpillar of Melitaea ignasiti, found on the same head of Verbascum lychnitis as the caterpillar in 15] - Pyrénées orientales alt.1210m (France) - 18/07/2020  
       
       
 
20] same larva as 19] - 19/07/2020      
       
       
   
21] same larva as 19] - 19/07/2020   22] same larva as 19] - 19/07/2020  
       
       
 
23] view of the place where the caterpillars in 15] & 19] were seen, on the side of a road. The head of Verbascum lychnitis on which the larvae were feeding is visible (white arrow) - Pyrénées orientales alt.1210m (France) - 18/07/2020  
       
       
   
24] blossom head of Verbascum lychnitis - Pyrénées orientales (France) - 18/07/2020   25] same place as 23]. Heads of Verbascum lychnitis are visible - Pyrénées orientales alt.1210m (France) - 18/07/2020  
       
       
   
26] chrysalis of Melitaea ignasiti, which originated from the caterpillar shown in 13] - 22/07/2020   27] same chrysalis as 26]
 
 
       
       
     
28] chrysalis of Melitaea ignasiti, which originated from the caterpillar shown in 19] - 22/07/2020      
       
       
       
Description :  
     
Flight period :  
       
       
Habitat :