Aetherie Fritillary
Melitaea aetherie
The Aetherie Fritillary is a medium-sized butterfly with distinctive orange-brown wings marked by intricate black checkered patterns and pale spotted undersides. This species serves as an important pollinator in its mountain ecosystems and acts as a key indicator of grassland health, with its caterpillars feeding exclusively on specific plantain species.
10
Countries
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aetherie_fritillary
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Lepidoptera
Family
Nymphalidae
Genus
Melitaea
Aetherie Fritillary belongs to the family Nymphalidae, order Lepidoptera, within the Insecta class.
Species Profile
The Aetherie Fritillary is a medium-sized butterfly with distinctive orange-brown wings marked by intricate black checkered patterns and pale spotted undersides. This species serves as an important pollinator in its mountain ecosystems and acts as a key indicator of grassland health, with its caterpillars feeding exclusively on specific plantain species.
The Aetherie Fritillary faces significant threats from habitat loss and degradation due to agricultural intensification and urban development across its range. Climate change poses additional risks by altering the distribution and phenology of its host plants, while overgrazing by livestock degrades the flower-rich meadows essential for adult feeding.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Inhabits dry grasslands, rocky slopes, and flower-rich meadows in mountainous regions, typically at elevations between 1000-2500m. The species requires areas with abundant nectar sources and specific host plants from the Plantaginaceae family for larval development.
Threats
Agricultural intensification and land conversion
Urban development and infrastructure expansion
Climate change impacts on host plant availability
Habitat fragmentation
Overgrazing by livestock
National vs Global Threat Status
How this species is assessed at the national level compared to its IUCN global status (VU).
| Country | National Status | Global Status | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | LCLeast Concern | VUVulnerable | Lower local risk |
| EU | LCLeast Concern | VUVulnerable | Lower local risk |
National Red List data sourced from the National Red List Project (nationalredlist.org, ZSL) and country-specific Red List authorities.
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
National Red Lists: ZSL (2025). National Red List. Zoological Society of London. Available at: https://www.nationalredlist.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Aetherie Fritillary (Melitaea aetherie). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/aetherie-fritillary