Melitaea trivia's preferred habitat is hot, dry grassy and well flowered areas within light woodland and scrub in elevations up to the tree line.
   In the south there are up to three generations per year, further north, only two. 
  Generally, they are more heavily marked than the Spotted Fritillary (M. didyma), which they are often seen on wing with.
   The dorsal side black border is solid and uniform usually touching the post discal arches.

   The ventral side hindwing marginal spots are markedly more triangular than rounded.

   The definitive feature is the presence of a small vein that closes the cell in the hindwing of the current species.