Marsh Fritillary
Image: Iacobndg (CC BY 4.0)
Common NameMarsh Fritillary
Scientific NameEuphydryas aurinia
FamilyNymphalidae
SubfamilyNymphalinae
Wingspan (mm)40
Primary Colorsorange, black, yellow
HabitatDamp grasslands, marshy meadows, heathland, open woodlands
Geographic RangeEurope, temperate Asia
Host PlantsDevil's-bit Scabious (Succisa pratensis), Plantains (Plantago spp.)
Flight PeriodLate May to early July
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusnear-threatened
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid in batches on host plant leaves. Larvae are gregarious, feeding in a silken web, and overwinter as small larvae before pupating in spring.
Identification TipsAdults have a unique checkered pattern of orange, yellow, and black. Larvae are black and spiny, often found communally on Devil's-bit Scabious.
Description
The image shows a black, spiny larva with small white spots, curled on a green leaf. The adult butterfly is medium-sized with a distinctive checkered pattern of orange, yellow, and black on its wings.
