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The aetherie fritillary (Melitaea aetherie) is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae.
| Aetherie fritillary | |
|---|---|
_Melitaea_aetherie_aetherie_-_Scillato_Sicile_-_male_dorsal.jpg)
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| Male | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Nymphalidae |
| Genus: | Melitaea |
| Species: | M. aetherie
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| Binomial name | |
| Melitaea aetherie (Hübner, 1826)
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| Synonyms | |
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Melitaea aetherea (lapsus) | |
Distribution edit
It is found locally in mountain areas of North Africa and very locally in southern Spain, southern Portugal, Sicily and southern Italy.
Biology edit
The insect flies from mid-April until the end of May with a second generation in September in Italy. The habitat is open grasslands and flowery meadows. The larvae feed on various Centaurea knapweeds. The flowers of Centaurea also attract the nectar-feeding adults.
Description edit
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_Melitaea_aetherie_-_Scillato_Sicile_-_female_dorsal.jpg)
_Melitaea_aetherie_-_Scillato_Sicile_-_female_ventral.jpg)