Melitaea aetherie (Hübner, [1826])

Host plants:
The larvae feed on some Asteraceae, especially Centaurea and Cynara.

Habitat:
Melitaea aetherie inhabits pastures (e.g. extensively managed cattle pastures in SW-Spain), fallow land, nutrient-poor grasslands, mountain slopes and garigues.

Life cycle:
The larvae hibernate and are mature between late March and late April. The butterflies occur between April and June (according to altitude).

Remarks:
Melitaea aetherie occurs in N-Africa and the SW-Iberian Peninsula (S-Portugal, SW-Spain, to the East mainly to Malaga and only very sporadically further East). Melitaea aetherie is also found in Sicily and very locally in S-Italy.