Is this a Meadow Fritillary?

[selbypaul]

Hi everyone
I've been going through some old photos I took in the Spanish Pyrenees back in July 2017. At the time I thought the attached was a Meadow Fritillary. But looking at the photo again, I'm not so sure. I think it is probably a Heath Fritillary

Any ideas? Thanks in advance
Paul

[Roger Gibbons]

Hi Paul,

These two species are very difficult to tell apart from an underside view alone, but we can see enough of the forewing to suggest Heath - mainly because of the heavy shading around marginal lunule s2. I don't think it looks red enough for Provencal Fritillary.

Roger

[selbypaul]

That's really helpful, thanks Roger. Slowly but surely I'm starting to pick up some knowledge of European butterfly identification. It's tricky though!