Glanville Fritillary

• Latin name: Melitaea cinxia
• Family group: Fritillaries, Duke of Burgundy
• Countries: England
• Size: Small, Medium

Resident

Range stable.

The Glanville Fritillary is virtually restricted to coastal landslips on the southern half of the Isle of Wight and on the Channel Islands.

It was named after Lady Eleanor Glanville who was the first to capture British specimens in Lincolnshire during the 1690s.

The status of the butterfly appears to have changed little in recent decades, though there has been some loss of habitat due to coastal protection measures. However, there are only a handful of core breeding areas and it remains a vulnerable species.

Conservation status

• UK Biodiversity Action Plan: Priority Species
• Butterfly Conservation Priority: High
• European threat status: not threatened
• Protected in Great Britain for sale only

European/world range

Widespread and common through much of Europe to 61B:N in Scandinavia and eastwards to Asia. Severe declines reported in many European countries.

Foodplants

The main foodplant is Ribwort Plantain (Plantago lanceolata). Buck's-horn Plantain (P. coronopus) is used occasionally as a secondary foodplant by final instar larvae.

Habitat

Two habitat types are used: coastal grasslands either on undercliffs where there is soil slippage, deeply incised coastal river valleys (chines) with eroding sides, or cliff tops; and south facing chalk downland. The former tends to support the larger, more permanent colonies whereas the latter supports shorter-lived, although sometimes large colonies. There are eighteenth century records from woodland clearings in eastern England.