David Element's Wildlife Web Page Butterflies 5 - Nymphalidae

David Element

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___ Butterflies 5 - Nymphalidae - Fritillaries 1

SILVER-WASHED FRITILLARY Argynnis paphia (m)

DARK GREEN FRITILLARY Argynnis aglaja

HIGH BROWN GREEN FRITILLARY Argynnis adippe

QUEEN OF SPAIN FRITILLARY Issoria lathonia (m)

PEARL-BORDERED FRITILLARY Clossiana euphrosyne

SMALL PEARL-BORDERED FRITILLARY Clossiana selene

WEAVER’S (VIOLET) FRITILLARY Clossiana dia

FALSE HEATH FRITILLARY Melitaea diamina

KNAPWEED FRITILLARY Melitaea phoebe

HEATH FRITILLARY Mellicta athalia

PROVENCAL FRITILLARY Mellicta dione

MEADOW FRITILLARY Mellicta parthenoides

MARSH FRITILLARY Euphydryas aurinia

Fritillaries may possess extremely similar markings, so identification, particularly of Continental European species, is fraught with difficulties even when presented with a clear view of the upperside wing patterns. Some of the diagnostic (structural) features are rather subtle and they cannot always be seen in photographs. The Spanish ‘Meadow’ Fritillaries shown here are presumed to be variations of the same species (possibly Provencal Fritillaries) even if they have been misidentified. There is no question about the identity of the Heath Fritillary as it was photographed in an area of southern England where there are no other similar butterflies. With the exception of the sexually dimorphic Silver-washed Fritillary which appears to be expanding its range, all of the other British species are in decline, some seriously so. This is particularly the case for the High Brown Fritillary, the photograph above having been taken in southern France. The Queen of Spain Fritillary is believed to have bred in East Anglia recently although the above example was photographed in the Dordogne, France. There are illustrations of the undersides of some of these species on Butterflies 12.