It is easy to mix this butterfly with a
Spotted fritillary (
Melitaea didyma), although an experienced observer will already notice in the air the fading color of the Lesser spotted fritillary. The biggest difference is that on the bottom side of the hind wings there are triangular dots along the edge. The orange belt that tracks the edge of the wings is intersected with white veins. Although it is a typical butterfly of grasslands, it can be often found on forest clearings, shrubs, near settlements or near arable lands. The presence of mullein (
Verbascum sp.) is important, on which the caterpillars are feeding. The caterpillars are easily recognizable (based on their white color) and can be easily visible on the ground leafs of mullein. With rare exceptions, in Serbia it cannot be seen only in Vojvodina. It inhabits parts of southern and southeastern Europe and parts of western and central Asia.