Page 202 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

BUTTERFLY CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Nymphalidae
DISTRIBUTION Across Europe and southern Scandinavia into southern Russia,
central Asia, and northern China
HABITAT Damp mountain meadows at 1,970–5,900 ft (600–1,800 m)
elevation near to woodland
HOST PLANTS Polygonum bistorta and violet (Viola spp.)
NOTE Spiky, black caterpillar that is found in damp alpine meadows
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated, but classed as near threatened in Europe

ADULT WINGSPAN
1½–1⅞ in (38–48 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
⁄ –⅞ in (18–22 mm)
BOLORIA TITANIA
TITANIA’S FRITILLARY
200
(ESPER, 1793)

Titania’s Fritillary caterpillars hatch from eggs laid singly by
the female on host plants or on nearby vegetation. The young
caterpillars do not eat but go into diapause, overwintering on
the host plant. In spring, the larvae, which are solitary, become
active again and start to feed. They pupate on plants close to the
host plant, where they remain for three weeks. The pupa is well
camou aged, with the appearance of a shriveled leaf.

There is a single generation annually. The fast- ying butter ies

are on the wing from late June to August. Though still quite
common in the Alps at higher altitudes, the species is in decline
as a result of habitat loss, especially its favored meadows close
to forests. Today there are scattered and relatively isolated
colonies, which may account for the numerous subspecies that
occur across the range. The species was formerly classified
within the genus Clossiana, and many texts still refer to it
as Clossiana titania.

The Titania’s Fritillary caterpillar has a dark
body that ranges from brown to black. There
are rings of long tubercles, light brown in color,
each bearing numerous short spines. The long,
antennae-like appendages on the head are black.
Actual size