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Argynnis auresianna, adippe

Moroccan High Brown Fritillary

Field Notes

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Middle Atlas, Morocco, June 2005

Heavy green underside markings.

 

Middle Atlas, Morocco, June 2005

Variegation of the orange is noticeable on most of these upperside photos.
 

High Atlas, Morocco, July 2005
 

Middle Atlas, Morocco, June 2005
 

Middle Atlas, Morocco, June 2005
 

Middle Atlas, Morocco, June 2005
 

Middle Atlas, Morocco, June 2005
 

Middle Atlas, Morocco, June 2005
 

Middle Atlas, Morocco, June 2005
 

Middle Atlas, Morocco, June 2005
 

Middle Atlas, Morocco, June 2005
 

High Atlas, Morocco, July 2005

 

This is an excellent bright species (or subspecies). It flies all across north Africa north of the deserts. In the Middle Atlas it flew amongst the Cedar forests and scrub oaks between 1600 and 200m, in the High Atlas we found it at higher levels upto 2500m over open flowery but very dry rocky places.

There appears to be debate about the status of this butterfly as a species separate from the High Brown Fritillary, A. adippe, which flies across most of Europe. The current consensus appears to be that it is a separate species, A. auresiana. Certainly the butterflies in N Africa that we encountered were much greener than those from Europe and the upperside showed a marked variegation in the orange particularly around the post discal area of the hindwing.

 

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