Wingspan: 33–38 mm
Flight period of butterflies: in one generation from May to July
Larval host plants: species from the genus Valeriana (Valeriana)
Marsh fritillary (Melitaea diamina) is a medium-sized butterfly, which is dark brown on the upper side with a pattern of orange spots. These are small on the hindwings and arranged in two or three bands. The species is reliably identified by the coloration of the underside of the hindwings. The yellow spots in the inner corner of the hindwings are without black dots; in the center of the orange-brown spots that form a band along the outer edge of the wings, there is a black dot next to the circular yellowish spot.
The marsh fritillary lives in moist and marshy meadows from lowlands to high mountains. In our country it is (still) a relatively common butterfly, which is listed on the Red List of threatened butterflies of Slovenia as a vulnerable species, as it is tied to habitats that are sensitive to changes, especially to drying out.
