Melitaea deserticola deserticola

A small fritillary with a wingspan of 30-40 mm, closely resembles the toadflax but with a different series of black markings on the undersides. The desert is found in drier parts of Lebanon, such as along the coastline, on sand dunes, stony hillsides, dry slopes, and in semi-desert. Host plants include the oriental anarrhinum (Anarrhinum orientale), toadflaxes (Linaria spp.), and plantains (Plantago spp.). It flies from February through June, the flight is high off the ground. This butterfly is considered vulnerable.

 

 Attribution: Husein Zorkot