Variegated Fritillary
Common NameVariegated Fritillary
Scientific NameEuptoieta claudia
FamilyNymphalidae
SubfamilyHeliconiinae
Wingspan (mm)50
Wing Patternsolid
Primary Colorsorange, brown, black, cream
HabitatOpen fields, meadows, pastures, roadsides, gardens, disturbed areas
Geographic RangeSouthern Canada, throughout the United States, Mexico, Central America, and parts of South America
Host Plantsviolets, passion-flowers, flax, stonecrop, purslane, plantain
Flight PeriodMarch to November (multiple broods), year-round in warmer climates
Flight Stylegliding
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on host plants. Larvae are spiny and dark with orange stripes. Pupae are mottled brown/gray, resembling a dead leaf, with multiple generations per year.
Identification TipsDistinguished by its mottled orange and black upperwing pattern and the cryptic, somewhat marbled underside, which lacks the distinct silver spots found on many other fritillary species.
Description
A medium-sized butterfly with orange-brown wings heavily marked with black lines and spots, giving it a variegated or checkered appearance. The underside is cryptically patterned with browns and grays.
