Map butterfly
Araschnia levana
The Map butterfly is a nymphalid butterfly known for its striking seasonal polyphenism, where spring and summer generations look completely different. The spring brood is orange-brown, while the summer brood is black with white markings. It inhabits damp woodland edges, meadows, and riverbanks across Eurasia, with larvae feeding specifically on stinging nettles.
Details
Identification
Seasonal dimorphism: spring form orange-brown (f. levana), summer form black and white (f. prorsa). Underside of both forms features a map-like pattern of lines.
Social behavior
Solitary; males often defend small territories along woodland paths or clearings.
Diet
Larvae feed exclusively on nettle leaves. Adult butterflies feed on nectar from umbellifers, blackberries, buckthorn, and valerian.
Spawning substrate
Underside of leaves of the stinging nettle (Urtica dioica).
Overwintering
Overwinters as a pupa (chrysalis) attached to plant stems in the herb layer.
Ecology
Ecological role
Pollinator of various wild plants and important prey for insectivorous birds and predatory invertebrates.
Natural predators
Birds, spiders, ichneumon wasps (as larval parasitoids), predatory bugs.
Competitor species
Other nettle-feeders such as the European Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, and Red Admiral.
Ecosystem service
Pollination of flowering plants in forest edge and floodplain ecosystems.
Threats
Loss of damp margin habitats due to intensive forestry and drainage of woodland sites.
Scientific profile
Profile
Distinguishing features
Unique map-like pattern on the wing underside (giving the species its name); extreme color difference between generations (photoperiodism controlled by day length during larval development).
Habitat
Forest edges, clearings, damp forest paths, alluvial forests, shrublands, and tall herb fringes with nettle stands.
Protection & threats
Main threats
Intensification of forestry (loss of clearings), removal of nettle fringes (edge structures), drainage of damp forests.
Population trend
Stable to increasing; in Central Europe, the species partially benefits from eutrophication (nitrogen input promotes nettles) and climate warming (range expansion to the north).
Conservation measures
Preservation and promotion of nettle fringes at forest edges; maintaining clearings and wide, sunny forest paths; promotion of near-natural forestry.