About Mellicta parthenoides (Keferstein, 1851)
Description: This species has a wingspan of 28 to 34 mm. The upper wing surface is very similar in pattern to Melitaea athalia, but its black markings are much thinner, and yellowish red is the prevalent color. In Melitaea aurelia and Melitaea athalia, the yellowish red spots can be described as united into bands. By contrast, Mellicta parthenoides has orange bands of almost even width, which are traversed by thin black veins. The median band in particular is very broad, and the spots that make up the median band are almost twice as long as they are wide, a trait that is hardly ever seen in European Melitaea athalia. The underside of the wings also resembles Melitaea athalia in pattern, but it is brighter, more variegated, the black edges of the various bands are more prominent, and the colours contrast more distinctly. Distribution: It is found in south-western Europe, specifically on the Iberian Peninsula, in south-western France, parts of the Italian Alps, southern and south-western Germany, and a few regions of Switzerland.
