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.
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