Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia)

OTHER NAMES: Greater Silver-streaked Fritillaria

Latin Etymology: Argnnis (an epithet of Aphrodite) paphia ("relating to love"?)

Adult Silver-washed Fritillary (subspecies A. p. butleri) at Pencarrow, Cornwall - July 2019

Featured Subspecies: Argynnis paphia butleri
Length: ?  /  Wingspan: 69-80mm
UK Status: Least Concern / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated

The Silver-Washed Fritillary is the largest of the UK's Fritillaries, it is a substantial butterfly found in open areas within (usually deciduous) woodland.  It's main food-plant as a larvae is a dog-violent.  It is a very broadly ranging species, found from Europe to Japan across the palaearctic. With the exception of the comma, fritillaries are not that obvious in the UK normally, however, the Silver-washed is distributed across the southern half of England.

Related Species:
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Genus: Argynnis
SUBSPECIES: A. p. butleri, A. p. thalassata, A. p. dives, A. p. argyrorrhytes, A. p.delila, A. p. masandarensis, A. p. pusilla, A. p. neopaphia, A. p. virescens, A. p. geisha, A. p. tsushimana, A. p. megalegoria, A. p. argyrophontes, A. p. formosicola

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A widespread but local resident species

 - Seen in Brigstock and Pencarrow

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Dark Green Fritillary (Argynnis aglaja)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Argnnis (an epithet of Aphrodite) aglaja ("splendor")

Adult Dark Green Fritillary (Argynnis aglaja) at Trevose, Cornwall - July 2019

Featured Subspecies: ?
Weight: ?  /  Length: ?  /  Wingspan: 58-68mm
NO UK STATUS /  IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

A large fritillary species that flies in the UK from June to September.  They are a versatile species found in various habitats, including grassland, dunes, moorland and woodland, made possible by it's foodplant of violets.  It is similar to the far rarer High Brown Fritillary, but there are subtle differences in the patternation of the species.

Related Species:
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Genus: Argynnis
SUBSPECIES: A. a. aglaja, A. a. borealis, A. a. lyauteyi, A. a. excelsior, A. a. ottomana, A. a. gigavitatha, A. a. vitatha, A. a. clavimacula, a. a. kenteana, A. a. tonnai, A. a. bessa

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A widespread but local resident.

 - Seen on Trevose Head in July 2019,

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Small Pearl-Bordered Fritillary (Boloria selene)

OTHER NAMES: Silver-bordered Fritillary, Small Pearl Border Fritillaria
Latin Etymology: Boloria (?) selene (Moon)

Adult Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary (Boloria selene) at The Lizard, Cornwall - June 2011

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Length: ?  /  Wingspan: 35-44mm
UK Status: Near Threatened / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated

In my opinion, one of the most attractive butterfly species in the UK. Care should be taken so as not to confuse it with the (non small) pearl-bordered fritillary, or, for that matter, any other fritillary. It is apparently mostly confined to the South West, Wales, the Lake District and Scotland.

Related Species:
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Genus: Boloria
SUBSPECIES: None - monotypic

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Scarce and local resident

 - Single individual seen on The Lizard

Further Notes: BirdGuides, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Edwards's Fritillary (Argynnis edwardsii)

OTHER NAMES: Edwards' Fritillary
Latin Etymology:  Speyeria (for lepidopterist Speyer)

Adult Edward's Fritillary (Argynnis edwardsii) at Montana, USA - July 2024

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Wingspan: 6.0-8.6cm
NO UK STATUS /  IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

A large fritillary found on short grass prarie along the Wester Rockies. Their host plants are species of violet. Their flight time is May to early September, having only one brood per year.

Related Species:
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Genus: Speyeria
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES - Found on the plains, from Montana to Colorado
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Seen in Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota and Alaska

 Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Aphrodite Fritillary (Speyeria aphrodite)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Speyeria (for lepidopterist Speyer) aphrodite (Greek Goddess)

Adult Aphrodite Fritillary (Speyeria aphrodite) at Writing-on-Stone, Alberta, Canada - July 2024

Featured Subspecies: Speyeria aphrodite manitoba
Wingspan: 5.1-7.3cm
 UK STATUS NOT EVALUATED/ IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

A large fritillary species found across much of Temperate North America, their host planet are species of violet and as adult they primarily feed on the nectar of plants like milkweed and Viper's Bugloss. They are uite geographically variable with some forms being more yellowish or brownish.

Related Species:
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Genus: Speyeria
SUBSPECIES: S. a. alcestis, S. a. byblis, S. a. columbia, S. a. ethene, S. a. manitoba, S. a. whitehousei, S. a. winni

 - Sighting Locations -

CANADA - Found along Southern Border and Further North in Saskatcewan and Alberta
  - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: - Seen in Alberta

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Gulf Fritillary (Dione vanillae)

OTHER NAMES: Passion Butterfly
Latin Etymology: Dione (Dionē - the mother of Venus) vanillae ("vanilla")

Adult Gulf Fritillary (Dione vanillae) at Hayward, California - September 2022

Featured Subspecies: ?
Weight: ?  /  Length: ?  /  Wingspan: 6.5-9.5cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

At a glimpse, this species might be mistaken for a Monarch, however, it isn't closely related. It is found from the Southern United States down to parts of South America and has a wide variety of host plants, notably including various species of passion flower, which contribute to its alternate name of passion butterfly. They possess some odorous chemicals as a defensive mechanism from predators.

Related Species:
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae 
Genus: Dione
SUBSPECIES: ?

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES 
Found at Southern States
 - CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen at  Hayward  

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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