Marsh, Glanville and Heath Fritillaries

 The Marsh Fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia), Glanville Fritillary (Melitaea cinxia) and Heath Fritillary (Melitaea athalia) are three of the most endangered butterfly species in the UK and have long since been lost to the Sussex landscape.

Historically, it is not clear whether the Glanville Fritillary was ever truly a Sussex native species but the Marsh and Heath Fritillaries certainly were. The latter two species were already in decline in Sussex by the late 19th century and became extinct during the early 20th century. Ever since then, the record books have been littered with introductions and illicit releases. 

(Ref: "A History of the Butterflies and Moths of Sussex" by Colin Pratt.)

It was my intention to revisit these species in 2020 but the pandemic restrictions rather scuppered that idea and I decided to stay very local in my pursuit of butterflies. Similarly, 2021 seems likely to delay this venture for another year.

Here are some images of these three species that I have taken over the years.

Marsh Fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia) 

(images taken in Dorset in 2009)

Male 

Mating pair

Female

Glanville Fritillary (Melitaea cinxia)

(images taken on the Isle of Wight in 2012)

Males

Females

Mating pair with male interloper

Heath Fritillary (Melitaea athalia)

(images taken in Kent in 2012 & 2015)

Males

Females

Larva on common cow-wheat

Mating pair