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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
editIt is found locally in mountain areas of North Africa and very locally in southern Spain, southern Portugal, Sicily and southern Italy.
Biology
editThe 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
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_Melitaea_aetherie_-_Scillato_Sicile_-_female_dorsal.jpg)
_Melitaea_aetherie_-_Scillato_Sicile_-_female_ventral.jpg)