Size:
Wingspan is 3 - 4 1/8 inches.

Similar Species:
Great Spangled Fritillary (males)
Females mimic Pipevine Swallowtail and might be confused with the much smaller Red-spotted Purple

Habitat:
Along sunlit mountain roads near creeks at lower elevations. Glades along mountain forests or woods.

Range/Abundance:
Uncommon in the mountains and rare in the piedmont.

Flight Period:
Adults fly from mid May until early October in a single brood. Males emerge 2-3 weeks before the females.

Larval Host Plants:
Violets Viola spp.

Comments:
This is one of the largest and most beautiful of the fritillaries. The males are smaller and mostly orange on the underside and the females are bluish black mimicking the Pipevine Swallowtail.

These photos were taken in Montgomery Co., VA on July 01, 2000 with the help of Clyde Kessler and Bruce Grimes.

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