Melitaea nevadensis


Melitaea nevadensis is a species of butterfly in the family Nymphalidae.

Taxonomy

The name nevadensis originally referred to a subspecies of Melitaea deione, and later of Melitaea athalia, found in the Spanish Sierra Nevada.
At the beginning of the 21st century, molecular studies have determined that the Melitaea athalia populations from southwestern Europe likely constitute a separate species from the nominal M. athalia that is widespread throughout the Palaearctic region. These butterflies are distinct genetically and morphologically in the structure of the genitalia.
This newly identified species has been referred to as Melitaea nevadensis, Melitaea celadussa or Melitaea helvetica.

Distribution

Melitaea nevadensis replaces Melitaea athalia in the Iberian Peninsula, in southeastern France, western and southern Switzerland, and most of Italy. In France and Italy, the ranges of these two species are separated by a broad transition zone where the specimens have intermediate morphological features.

Description

It has a wingspan of about. These butterflies are golden yellow or orange, with fine black markings.

Biology

Caterpillars feed on Plantago, Antirrhinum, Veronica, Linaria, Melampyrum, Digitalis and Pedicularis species.