The Glanville Fritillary, Melitaea cinxia, is named
after Lady Eleanor Glanville, a 17th century Lepidopterist who discovered this
species in Lincolnshire Isle of Wight , with the
occasional colony, typically short-lived, appearing on the South Hampshire
coast.
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It is a butterfly that can be found in most regions of France Channel Islands where it forms small colonies
where there is suitable habitat. There has been a reduction in numbers
especially in the north and west of its range with habitat loss being the most likely
main cause.
They require low growing sparse grassland, natural flower
meadows, scrub, woodland edges and even roadside verges but due to the increase
in what is called improved pasture and in cereal production in the broad sense
there is increasing isolation of populations. The widespread use of Roundup
(Glyphosate) to keep the ground clear in vineyards is another threat to this
butterfly along with a number of other species.
In the southern half of the country there are usually two
broods with the first on the wing in April / May and the second generation June
/ September. Regardless of whether there is a single brood or two broods in a
season they over winter as caterpillars in webs that they form on the ground
with their food plant which is principally Plantain hence the French common
name of La Mélitée du Plantain.
Lady Eleanor’s collection of butterflies still exists and is
housed in the Natural history
Museum
Chris
