Male showing
dazzling red upperside - visible across meadows from great distances.
Rila Mts,
Bulgaria, July 2004
Typical female
Rila Mts,
Bulgaria, July 2004
Valais,
Switzerland, July 2009
NW Greece,
August 2008
Valais,
Switzerland, July 2008
Rila Mts,
Bulgaria, July 2004
Unusual female
form
Rila Mts,
Bulgaria, July 2004
Another view
of the stunning male above.
Valais,
Switzerland, July 2005
Valais,
Switzerland, July 2005
Valais,
Switzerland, July 2005
Valais,
Switzerland, July 2005
Tatra
Mountains, Slovakia, July 2001
Tatra
Mountains, Slovakia, July 2001
Underside is
unmistakable
Provence,
France, August 2001
Female
Macedonia,
Greece, July 2000
Valais,
Switzerland, August 2002
E Switzerland,
July 2003
Tatra
Mountains, Slovakia, July 2001
The males of this species are super bright red. In
a field full colour - flowers, butterflies, birds... - a male perched on
a flower head 20 meters away will instantly catch the eye. It is a
common butterfly in high mountains although it is found in lower areas
less commonly. It flies in the northern half of Spain, and from the Alps
eastwards and from Greece to Scandinavia.