Portugal, Spain, northern Africa and the south of France are where these fritillary butterflies are primarily found, although their distribution stretches eastwards at least as far as parts of Italy. 
    Separation from like species can be very difficult and even impossible for many individuals.
    They prefer hot dry slopes, often with scrub, light woodland, vineyards etc.
   The best opportunity to see the Provençal Fritillary is on sunny days with little wiind. (They prefer a warm and dry climate.)
   They are very similar to several other European species, but the female in particular usually has a yellowish band on the dorsal side which aids identification. 
   The male's dorsal side ground colour is clear orange yellow with thin black markings, consistent in the male, but the female usually has adjacent paler bands giving a color contrast, . However, female Melitae athalia sometimes have similar bands, so the presence of such bands cannot be taken as absolute that the specimen is a deione.