Fritillaries

The fritillaries are a group of butterflies belonging to the family Nymphalidae. They have distinctive uppersides of orange with black-brown markings and spots. This makes them difficult to confuse with other species.

   Dark Green Fritillary Argynnis aglaja

   Silver-Washed Fritillary Argynnis paphia

   Marsh Fritillary Eurodryas aurinia

   Small Pearl Bordered Fritillary Boloria selene

Marsh Fritillary  Eurodryas aurinia

Both female and male are similar. However there is a wide variety of colouring possible, from yellow, orange to red. The upperwings are brown, orange and yellow; and are more brightly marked than other fritillary species. The undersides are paler version of the upperwings but with a greenish tinge.

There is a single brood. The eggs are laid in batches and when the caterpillars hatch they overwinter communally. The spiny caterpillars are black with white spots, with reddish feet. The caterpillars live gregariously in a silken tent but later separate. The foodplant is devil's-bit scabious.

Silver-Washed Fritillary   Argynnis paphia

The silver-washed fritillary is the largest of the fritillaries to be found in Cornwall. The uppersides of both sexes are similar, the male tending to be a brighter orange. The undersides are orange, with black markings and silver striping, with the females tending to have more green.

The butterflies can often be seen feeding on bramble flowers. There is a single brood. The eggs are normally laid on tree bark, when they hatch the caterpillars stay on the bark, hibernate and overwinter. In spring the caterpillars leave the tree and find their foodplants violets. The caterpillars have long spines and two horns.

Small Pearl Bordered Fritillary Boloria selene

The small pearl bordered fritillary's upperside is orange with black stripes and spots. The undersides have similar markings to the uppersides, but the colouration differs. The forewings have a more yellowish tinge while the hindwings have a considerable amount of silvery white.

There are two broods. They overwinter as pupae. The foodplants are violets.

Dark Green Fritillary Argynnis aglaja

The dark green fritillary is very similar to the silver washed fritillary. It can be distinguished by it smaller size and its undersides as the hindwings have silver spots. The habitats of both butterflies are different, the dark green fritillary favouring open spaces such as moorland ,while the silver washed fritillary is a woodland species.

There can be two broods in good years. They overwinter as caterpillars. The foodplants are violets.