Glanville Fritillaries Melitaea cinxia feeding on Cornflowers Centaurea cyanea, Vendée, France

A planted wildflower meadow at a site in the Vendée, France (everyone should have one if they own a garden - much better than lawns!), proved to be a magnet for several butterfly species, and in particular for Glanville Fritillaries Melitaea cinxia. These seemed to have a preference for Cornflowers Centauria cyanea, presenting an irresistible combination for photography! The lines of orange spots with black centres on the hindwings are a very useful field characteristic when separating these beautiful butterflies from other, often similar, small European fritillaries. Some of the still photographs were taken after a shower of rain.