Melitaea didyma (Spotted Fritillary)

Found in Black Sea region.

I photographed this Fritillary sometime back in July, but I kept it in my pictures meaning to post it and never did. Today I thought of it again so here it is. It is actually the first butterfly I have ever photographed and the first one I have ever caught since at least three years ago. Fritillaries really are very pretty. Most of them are a combination of orange and black, like this one, but occasionally they differ. The one I caught seemed to be almost tame, it was so bold. If I was quite still, it would sit there on my finger without flinching for a considerable time. It was the easiest thing to catch; I do not even have to use a net for these ones, I just close my hand over it, and then open it gradually and it will sit on my finger. It is also extremely co-operative in that it lands with its wings open. I never learned how important that was until I had had experience catching numerous others who never open their wings. I think the Swallowtail and the Fritillary are my favorite ones.

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