The Heath Fritillary is one of our rarest butterflies and was considered to be on the brink of extinction in the late 1970s. Strange as it may sound, the extinction of the Large Blue in 1979 was to work in favour of this species, since the shock felt by many entomologists resulted in a renewed effort to conserve the Heath Fritillary. This required detailed knowledge of this butterfly's requirements and, as a result of research conducted by Martin Warren, appropriate habitat management plans were put into effect that saved this butterfly from extinction. This butterfly is confined to a small number of sites in Somerset, Devon and Cornwall in south-west England, and in Kent in south-east England, where it has also been reintroduced into sites in Essex. It is absent from Wales, Scotland, Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. Although very local in its distribution, this butterfly can be seen in large numbers at some sites in good years. This butterfly is widespread on the continent and can be one of the commonest butterflies seen in some regions. This butterfly forms discrete colonies and rarely strays from the main breeding grounds. Subspecies: Melitaea athalia athalia The nominate subspecies was first defined in Rottemburg (1775) as shown here (type locality: France, Paris). The population in the British Isles is represented by this subspecies.
At sites in the west country, this butterfly emerges in late May, peaking in early June. The butterfly emerges in early June elsewhere, peaking toward the end of June. There is one generation each year. Subspecies: Melitaea athalia athalia 
The chart(s) above have been correlated with the phenology plot below, taken from the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme. The blue line gives average counts over the full data set from 1976 to date, and the red line gives the average for the last year. 
Colonies in south west England are found on heathland, as well as on rich grassland. Those in south east England are found in woodland. Whatever the habitat, this species requires areas that are relatively-warm. This could be a patch of heathland that has recently been burned or a newly-coppiced clearing in a wood. The butterfly will readily colonise such areas, which resulted in it being given the name of "woodman's follower" as it colonises new clearings that have been created in a wood. Woodland colonies tend to use Common Cow-wheat and Foxglove as the larval foodplant, whereas those on other sites tend to use Ribwort Plantain and Germander Speedwell.
The primary larval foodplants are Common Cow-wheat (Melampyrum pratense), Germander Speedwell (Veronica chamaedrys) and Ribwort Plantain (Plantago lanceolata). Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) is also used.
Adults feed primarily on Bramble (Rubus fruticosus). Bugle (Ajuga reptans), Buttercups (Ranunculus spp.), Heather (Calluna vulgaris / Erica spp.), Knapweeds (Centaurea spp.) and Tormentil (Potentilla erecta) are also used.
This butterfly is very variable in terms of both the colour and the pattern of the wings. The male is the more conspicuous of the two sexes as it patrols clearings in search of a mate. They can be seen flying close to the ground alternating a few flicks of their wings with a short glide. The female has a much more laboured flight, weighed down by her load of eggs. Having found a suitable area, she will crawl around the vegetation before laying an untidy batch of up to 150 eggs. These are typically laid close to the foodplant on the underside of a Bramble leaf, or on a dead leaf. Both sexes can often be found in the company of others as they bask on shrubs. Subspecies: Melitaea athalia athalia
Description to be completed. Unclassified Aberrations
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![Heath Fritillary - aberration - East Blean Wood - 23-Jun-07 (2) [Marc Heath]](image_generator.php?src=phpBB/gallery/images/cache/e92f97847b0c9d1554a9a0813e38d2c7.jpg&r=223&g=246&b=216 "Heath Fritillary - aberration - East Blean Wood - 23-Jun-07 (2) [Marc Heath]") |
ab. cymathoe
Photo © Marc Heath
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![Heath Fritillary - aberration - East Blean Wood - 23-Jun-07 [Marc Heath]](image_generator.php?src=phpBB/gallery/images/cache/e1fcd28cc749c54b890a3ee432a3e9c8.jpg&r=223&g=246&b=216 "Heath Fritillary - aberration - East Blean Wood - 23-Jun-07 [Marc Heath]") |
ab. cymathoe
Photo © Marc Heath
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![Heath Fritillary - aberration - Lydford Gorge, Devon - 07-Jun-07 [Jules Cross]](image_generator.php?src=phpBB/gallery/images/cache/d0d0aca9adee886c81cad3a67758d62d.jpg&r=223&g=246&b=216 "Heath Fritillary - aberration - Lydford Gorge, Devon - 07-Jun-07 [Jules Cross]") |
Photo © Jules Cross
07-Jun-2008 |
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![Heath Fritillary - aberration - Lydford Gorge, Devon - 11-Jun-07 [Jules Cross]](image_generator.php?src=phpBB/gallery/images/cache/6106d2d383d0f76668ec71f1a3af90d3.jpg&r=223&g=246&b=216 "Heath Fritillary - aberration - Lydford Gorge, Devon - 11-Jun-07 [Jules Cross]") |
Photo © Jules Cross
11-Jun-2007 |
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![Heath Fritillary Aberrant - Starvelarks Wood, Essex - 140609 [Elliott Staley]](image_generator.php?src=phpBB/gallery/images/cache/12ae4f58e4e527c893ced57cf9917c71.jpg&r=223&g=246&b=216 "Heath Fritillary Aberrant - Starvelarks Wood, Essex - 140609 [Elliott Staley]") |
Photo © Elliott Staley
13-Jun-2009 |
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Eggs are pale green when first laid, but soon turn pale yellow in colour. Eggs hatch in around 2 weeks.
On hatching, newly-emerged larvae eat their eggshells before moving together to the foodplant, where they spin a loose silk web on which they bask and from which they feed. The larvae eventually divide into smaller groups, creating new webs as required, before ultimately separating to find a curled up dead leaf within which to hibernate, although they may be found together in twos and threes. The larvae emerge in the spring and recommence feeding and can be seen basking in full sun as they absorb the sun's rays, when their higher body temperature aids digestion. There are 5 moults in total.
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![Heath Fritillary (early instar larva) - East Blean Wood, Kent 22-March-2012 [Richard Roebuck]](image_generator.php?src=phpBB/gallery/images/cache/f178182c4c33fc6f5482847dc314f55c.jpg&r=223&g=246&b=216 "Heath Fritillary (early instar larva) - East Blean Wood, Kent 22-March-2012 [Richard Roebuck]") |
Photo © Richard Roebuck
22-Mar-2012 |
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![Heath Fritillary (early instar larva) - East Blean Wood, Kent 22-March-2012 [Richard Roebuck]](image_generator.php?src=phpBB/gallery/images/cache/01d03e95e1cf6269170e1e7301dfd10f.jpg&r=223&g=246&b=216 "Heath Fritillary (early instar larva) - East Blean Wood, Kent 22-March-2012 [Richard Roebuck]") |
Photo © Richard Roebuck
22-Mar-2012 |
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The pupa is formed among ground debris, attached upside-down to a dead leaf or twig. This stage lasts around 2 weeks.
The Glanville Fritillary and Heath Fritillary are easily distinguished in the British Isles since the Glanville Fritillary is generally only found on the Isle of Wight, with a small colony on the mainland, where Heath Fritillary do not occur. Where these two species do occur together on the continent, they are most easily distinguished from their undersides. The Glanville Fritillary has several spots on the underside that are not present in the Heath Fritillary.
Glanville Fritillary (left) and Heath Fritillary (right)
The spotting is also a distinguishing feature when looking at the upperside, where the Glanville Fritillary has spots on the upperside of the hindwing that are absent in the Heath Fritillary.
Glanville Fritillary (left) and Heath Fritillary (right)
Click here to see the distribution of this species overlaid with specific site information. Alternatively, select one of the sites listed below.
This butterfly has suffered a long-term decline and requires targeted habitat management. This species continues to be a priority species for conservation efforts. From The State of Butterflies in Britain and Ireland and the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP) (2007 review).
The following links provide additional information on this butterfly.
The species description provided here has been derived from the author's own observations and the information contained in the following works:
- Asher (2001). Asher, J., Warren, M., Fox, R., Harding, P., Jeffcoate, G. and Jeffcoate, S.: The Millennium Atlas of Butterflies in Britain and Ireland. 2001.
- Fox (2006). Fox, R., Asher, J., Brereton, T., Roy, D. and Warren, M.: The State of Butterflies in Britain and Ireland. 2006.
- Frohawk (1914). Frohawk, F.W.: A Natural History of British Butterflies. 1914.
- Howarth (1973). Howarth, T.G.: South's British Butterflies. 1973.
- Nash (2012). Nash, D., Boyd, T. and Hardiman, D.: Ireland's Butterflies: A Review. 2012.
- Riley (2007). Riley, A.M.: British and Irish Butterflies: The Complete Identification, Field and Site Guide to the Species, Subspecies and Forms. 2007.
- South (1906). South, R.: The Butterflies Of The British Isles. 1906.
- Thomas & Lewington (2010). Thomas, J. and Lewington, R.: The Butterflies of Britain and Ireland. Edn.2. 2010.
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![Heath Fritillary - imago - Thatcham - 10-Jun-11 (1) [REARED]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/09c31a1f43f5a9446392302a231ba0da.jpg "Heath Fritillary - imago - Thatcham - 10-Jun-11 (1) [REARED]")
![Heath Fritillary - aberration - East Blean Wood - 23-Jun-07 (2) [Marc Heath]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/e92f97847b0c9d1554a9a0813e38d2c7.jpg "Heath Fritillary - aberration - East Blean Wood - 23-Jun-07 (2) [Marc Heath]")
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![Heath Fritillary - aberration - Lydford Gorge, Devon - 07-Jun-07 [Jules Cross]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/d0d0aca9adee886c81cad3a67758d62d.jpg "Heath Fritillary - aberration - Lydford Gorge, Devon - 07-Jun-07 [Jules Cross]")
![Heath Fritillary - aberration - Lydford Gorge, Devon - 11-Jun-07 [Jules Cross]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/6106d2d383d0f76668ec71f1a3af90d3.jpg "Heath Fritillary - aberration - Lydford Gorge, Devon - 11-Jun-07 [Jules Cross]")
![Heath Fritillary Aberrant - Starvelarks Wood, Essex - 140609 [Elliott Staley]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/12ae4f58e4e527c893ced57cf9917c71.jpg "Heath Fritillary Aberrant - Starvelarks Wood, Essex - 140609 [Elliott Staley]")
![Heath Fritillary - ovum - Thatcham - 02-Jul-05 [REARED]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/90ee7a8023d896171b4abf4d54a28a44.jpg "Heath Fritillary - ovum - Thatcham - 02-Jul-05 [REARED]")
![Heath Fritillary - larva - Thatcham - 20-May-04 (4) [REARED]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/90e67e1fd87f7fdb513a438045c1c1f3.jpg "Heath Fritillary - larva - Thatcham - 20-May-04 (4) [REARED]")
![Heath Fritillary - larva - Thatcham - 20-May-04 (5) [REARED]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/c818eed316d3d9e39fb6a8fd2b15f974.jpg "Heath Fritillary - larva - Thatcham - 20-May-04 (5) [REARED]")
![Heath Fritillary - larva - Thatcham - 24-Apr-05 (2) [REARED]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/68cc68093754c3afcd87c82f7ca2d916.jpg "Heath Fritillary - larva - Thatcham - 24-Apr-05 (2) [REARED]")
![Heath Fritillary - larva - Thatcham - 24-Apr-05 (3) [REARED]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/2fdc2b8b334f3b70e6f579538eec46c0.jpg "Heath Fritillary - larva - Thatcham - 24-Apr-05 (3) [REARED]")
![Heath Fritillary - larva - Thatcham - 24-Apr-05 (5) [REARED]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/7cffd9ded4e095bdf7721decaafd4776.jpg "Heath Fritillary - larva - Thatcham - 24-Apr-05 (5) [REARED]")
![Heath Fritillary (early instar larva) - East Blean Wood, Kent 22-March-2012 [Richard Roebuck]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/f178182c4c33fc6f5482847dc314f55c.jpg "Heath Fritillary (early instar larva) - East Blean Wood, Kent 22-March-2012 [Richard Roebuck]")
![Heath Fritillary (early instar larva) - East Blean Wood, Kent 22-March-2012 [Richard Roebuck]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/01d03e95e1cf6269170e1e7301dfd10f.jpg "Heath Fritillary (early instar larva) - East Blean Wood, Kent 22-March-2012 [Richard Roebuck]")
![Heath Fritillary - pupa - Thatcham - 10-Jun-06 (0252) [REARED]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/4ef2307fd339a2f7f5af01b50efb254e.jpg "Heath Fritillary - pupa - Thatcham - 10-Jun-06 (0252) [REARED]")
![Heath Fritillary - pupa - Thatcham - 20-May-04 [REARED]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/3f503aa286c1e52b9a1f2b13839c7513.jpg "Heath Fritillary - pupa - Thatcham - 20-May-04 [REARED]")
![Heath Fritillary - pupa - Thatcham - 28-May-05 [REARED]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/443a85b14d1d992e7e855eedb2f1f928.jpg "Heath Fritillary - pupa - Thatcham - 28-May-05 [REARED]")
