About Fabriciana niobe elisa (Godart, 1823)
Fabriciana niobe, a medium-sized butterfly, has a wingspan of 46 to 60 millimetres (1.8 to 2.4 inches). Females are somewhat larger than males and have more prominent markings on their wings. The upper side of the wings has a bright brown-orange base, patterned with black dots, black crossbands, and a row of triangular submarginal patches. The margin of the forewings has a rounded shape. The underside of the hindwings usually features small whitish-silvery spots, a yellow spot with a black pupil, as well as black-lined submarginal lunules and black-lined veins in the basal area. Caterpillars of this species are dark overall, with small white spots and white spines. This species is quite similar to the dark-green fritillary (Speyeria aglaja) and the high brown fritillary (Fabriciana adippe), but differs by being smaller overall, having smaller brown spots centered with silver, and having non-continuous postdiscal silver markings. In Seitz's description as A. niobe L. (69c), it is noted that the upper side of the wing is very similar to that of S. aglaja, but it can be immediately recognized by the much more variegated pattern on the underside of the wing. Unlike S. aglaja, the basal half of the hindwing underside does not have uniform verdigris shading; instead, this area has distinct leathery-yellow patches, which are often centered, edged, or shaded with brownish green. The nymotypical form of F. niobe has numerous silver spots on the wing underside, more than S. aglaja: the distal wing band has no silver markings in S. aglaja, while it bears silvery centers in F. niobe. F. niobe is common across most of Europe, but is not found in the United Kingdom or Northern Europe. It also occurs in Siberia (Russia), Iran, China, and Korea. These butterflies inhabit open grassy areas, slopes, woodlands, and clearings, at elevations ranging from sea level up to 2,400 metres (7,900 feet).
