knapweed fritillary. ( Melitaea phoebe )

This European butterfly is as beautiful as it is common in the central and Southern part of the butterfly's range. It will often rest with wings open showing the orange and black pattern for which fritillaries are noted. As you can see, here, it is displaying it's equally striking and impressive underside wing. It is generally these underwing patterns that are used to differentiate between the many fritillary species.

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