| Map Butterfly (Araschnia levana (Linnaeus, 1758)) |
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Scientific name: Araschnia levana (Linnaeus, 1758) Common name: Map Butterfly French name: Carte géographique Order: Lepidoptera Suborder: Rhopalocera Family: Nymphalidae Subfamily: Araschiinae Wingspan: 32-38 mm Biotope: Open place in woodlands. Geographic area: Europe except southern France, Italia, Great Britain and Scandinavia. Flight time: March to June then July to September. Number of generations : 2 Caterpillar: Black with brownish spines. It has a gregarious life style. Host plant: Nettle (Urtica) |
The first "Spring" brood (levana) with yellow to orange ground colour, from late March to mid June, differs from the second called "Summer" brood (prorsa), in July and August, with a black ground colour. The drawing pattern on the under side of the wings is the origin of the common name of Map Butterfly. Both sexes are similar. |
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At least, here is an observation of the first brood (levana). |
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Here is a view of the underside of the wing of a first brood butterfly (levana). |
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On the contrary compared to the previous years, 2009 was a very good year about the observation of butterflies of the spring brood. But I have seen less of the following brood. |
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You can often see Map butterflies landed on the ground. |
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I have mainly seen butterflies of the second brood. |
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The Map Butterfly is a very common species and it is rather easy to take pictures. |
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Here is a nice view of the underside of the wing of a second brood butterfly (prorsa). |
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Many butterflies, like this Map butterfly, are used to gathering nectar on Hemp Agrimony flowers (Eupatorium cannabinum). |
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Here is one caterpillar which is starting the second brood of the year. |
André Bon February 2919