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Large and Small Fritillaries (Argynninae) *1 |
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Fritillary upperside
The upperside is very similar in all of them. |

Silver-washed Fritillary (Video)
(Argynnis paphia)
1... strip-shaped pearl-spots,
2... fore-wing ocher,
3... pointed and curved fore-wing,
4... upperside,
flies about 20.5.-1.10.
throughout Austria (Central Europe),
caterpillar food violet-species (viola). |

Silver-washed Fritillary f. valesina (Video)
(Argynnis paphia f. valesina)
a rare greenish female form,
1... strip-shaped pearl-spots,
2... fore-wing greenish-ocher,
3... pointed and curved fore-wing,
4... upperside,
flies about 20.5.-1.10. throughout Austria,
caterpillar food violet-species (viola). |

Kardinal Fritillary *2
(Argynnis pandora)
1... strip-shaped pearl-spots,
2... fore-wing red,
3... pointed and curved fore-wing,
4... upperside,
flies about 15.5.-1.7.
rather in southern and eastern Austria,
caterpillar food violet-species (viola). |
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Dark Green Fritillary (Video)
(Speyeria aglaja)
1... postdiscal NO Dots,
2... scattered pearl-spots,
3... upperside: third dot small,
flies about 15.6.-15.8. throughout Austria
caterpillar food violet-species (viola). |

High Brown Fritillary (Video)
(Fabriciana adippe adippe)
1... Dots postdiscal,
2... brown veins,
3... basal NO black dot,
4...pearl-spots also near the border,
5... upperside: third dot small,
flies about 20.5.-31.8. throughout Austria,
caterpillar food violet-species (viola). |

High Brown Fr. f. cleodippe
(Fabriciana adippe f. cleodippe)
1... Dots postdiscal,
2... brown veins,
3... basal NO black dot,
4... near the border NO pearl-spots,
5... upperside*5: third dot small,
flies about 20.5.-31.8. throughout Austria,
caterpillar food violet-species (viola). |

High Brown Fr. f. cleodoxa (Video) (Fabriciana adippe f. cleodoxa)
1... NO pearl-spots, but flat yellow and little pattern,
2... upperside: third dot small,
flies about 20.5.-31.8. in southern Austria,
caterpillar food violet-species (viola). |
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Niobe Fritillary (Video)
(Fabriciana niobe)
1... Dots postdiscal,
2... often basal a black dot,
3... black veins,
4... white pearl-spots,
5... upperside: third dot small,
flies about 20.5.-31.8.
throughout Austria,
caterpillar food violet-species (viola). |

Niobe Fritillary f. eris
(Fabriciana niobe f. eris)
1... Dots postdiscal,
2... often basal a black dot,
3... black veins,
4... yellowish pearl-spots,
5... upperside: third dot small,
flies about 20.5.-31.8. throughout Austria,
caterpillar food violet-species (viola). |

Pearl-bordered Fritillary (Video)
(Boloria euphrosyne)
1... Basal and discal a single clear pearl-spot,
2... marginal a pearl-spot-row,
3... basal often a small black spot,
4... marginal vague black checkmarks,
5... orange-yellow band,
6...upperside: marginal triangles filled with black,
7... basal a prominent dot,
flies about 15.4.-15.9.
throughout Austria
caterpillar food violet-species (viola). |

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary (Boloria selene) (Video)
1... Basal several clearly limited spots and discal several pearl-spots,
2... marginal pearl-spot-row,
3... basal a strong black spot,,
4... marginal clear black checkmarks,
5... brown spots,
6... upperside: marginal black checkmarks,
7... basal a prominent dot,
flies about 1.5.-10.9. in wetlands throughout Austria,
caterpillar food violet-species (viola). |
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Weaver's Fritillary
(Video) (Boloria dia)
1...discal distributed pearl-spots,
2...marginal small pearl-spots,
3...angular wing tip,
4...often sprayed purple,
5... upperside,
flies about 20.4.-15.9. throughout Austria,
caterpillar food violet-species (viola). |

Marbled Fritillary (Video)
(Brenthis daphne)
1... NO white pearl-spots but yellow spots,
2... middle-spot almost brown,
3... sprayed clearly purple,
4... upperside: third dot small,
flies about 15.5.-15.8.
less in western Austria,
caterpillar food blackberries or raspberries (Rubus). |

Lesser Marbled Fritillary (Video)
(Brenthis ino)
1... NO white pearl-spots but bright spots,
2... middle-spot yellow,
3... sprayed pale purple,
4... upperside: third dot small,
flies about 1.6.-15.8.
throughout Austria,
caterpillar food meadowsweet (Filipendula) or blackberries (Rubus) and other. |

Queen of Spain Fritillary (Video)
(Issoria lathonia)
small butterfly
1...
conspicuous distributed pearl-spots,
2... slightly angular wing shape,
3... upperside,
flies about 15.3.-31.10. throughout Austria,
caterpillar food violet-species (viola). |
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Twin-spot Fritillary (Video)
(Brenthis hecate)
1... postdiscal TWO rows of black dots,
2...
also on the upperside two rows of black dots,
flies about 20.5.- 10.8.
in the warm eastern Austria,
caterpillar food Real Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria). |

Bog Fritillary (Video)
(Boloria eunomia)
1...
postdiscal clear circular dots with light filling,
2... row-shaped pale light spots,
3... basic color pale yellow,
4... upperside,
flies about 20.5.-10.7.
in moor areas from approx 300m -1500m (1000 - 4900 feet), not in the eastern of Austria,
caterpillar food Knotweed (Bistorta offficinalis) or violet (viola). |

Titania's Fritillary (Video)
(Boloria titania ssp. cypris)
1... very long, black spikes or filled triangles near the border characteristic,
2... NO white pearl-spots, but yellowish irregular spots,
3... sprayed purple,
4... upperside,
flies about 15.6.-1.9.
in moor areas from approx 500m (1600 feet) in the Alps,
caterpillar food Knotweed (Bistorta officinalis) or violet (viola). |

Thor's Fritillary*2 (Boloria thore),
hind wing rather dark,
1... discal continuous yellow spot row,
2... few white pearl-spots that are sometimes purple,
3...marginal spots sometimes purple,
4... upperide very dark,
flies about 15.6.-10.8.
in cool and damp forest clearings from approx. 700m (2300 feet) in the Alps,
caterpillar food violet-species (viola), especially viola biflora. |
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Cranberry Fritillary (Video)
(Boloria aquilonaris)
basic color red-brown with high contrast, often sprayed purple,
1... in the middle a flat white pearl-spots,
2... on the underside fore-wing thick black spots,
3...
small yellow marginal spot,
4... clear black marginal arrows,
5... on the upperside fore-wing thick black spots,
flies about 15.6.-31.8. from approx. 700m (2300 feet)
on marsh meadows and (high) moors in western and northern Austria,
caterpillar food Common Cranberry (Vaccinium oxycoccos). |

Shepherd's Fritillary (Video) (Boloria pales)
basic color red-brown, slightly washed out with yellow spots, sometimes sprayed purple,
1... in the middle a flat light pearl-spots,
2... on the underside fore-wing few thin spots,
3... long light marginal spot,
4... unclear marginal arrows,
5... on the upperside fore-wing are thick black spots,
flies about 20.6.-10.9. from approx. 1200m (3900 feet)
on mountain meadows in the Alps of western Austria,
caterpillar food long-tailed violets (viola calcarata). |
Mountain Fritillary *2 - male
(Boloria napaea)
basic color bleached red-brown with yellow spots, basal often greenish, sometimes sprayed
purple,
1... in the middle a flat light pearl-spots,
2... on the underside fore-wing few thin spots,
3... long light marginal spot,
4... unclear marginal arrows,
5... on the upperside fore-wing are thin black spots,
flies about 20.6.-31.8. from approx. 1200m (3900 feet)
on mountain meadows in the Alps of western Austria,
caterpillar food violet-species (viola) and other. |

Mountain Fritillary *2 - female
(Boloria napaea)
basic color bleached red-brown with yellow spots, often greenish, sometimes sprayed purple,
1... in the middle a flat light pearl-spots,
2... on the underside fore-wing few thin spots,
3... long light marginal spot,
4... unclear marginal arrows,
5... on the upperside very dark and often sprayed purple,
flies about 20.6.-31.8. from approx. 1200m (3900 feet)
on mountain meadows in the Alps of western Austria,
caterpillar food violet-species (viola) and other. |
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Small Fritillaries (Melitaeinae) *1 |
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Spotted Fritillary (Video)
(Melitaea didyma)
1... basal black dots,
2... rather connected orange bands,
3... single dark lines over the postdiscal-band,
4... round dark edge dots,
5... upperside: rather loose dark edge dots
6... upper side look of some females,
flies about 10.4.-15.9. throughout Austria,
caterpillar food Toadflax- (Linaria-), Snapdragon- (Antirrhinum-), Plantain- (Plantago-) Species, u. a. |

Lesser Spotted Fritillary (Video)
(Melitaea trivia)
1... basal black dots,
2...INTERRUPTED, irregular orange bands,
3... rather whole dark garland over the postdiscal-band,
4... triangular dark edge dots,
5... upperside: dark garland forms orange edge spots,
flies about 10.4.-31.8.in the warmer south and east of Austria,
caterpillar food Mullein-species (Verbascum). |

Knapweed-Fritillary (Video)
(Melitaea phoebe)
1... basal black dots,
2... round, freestanding, orange dots in yellow band (postdiscal),
3... upperside,
flies about 10.4.-10.9. throughout Austria,
caterpillar food Knapweed- (Centaurea-), Thistles- (Cirsium-), Ring thistle- (Carduus-), Plantain- (Plantago-) species. |

Glanville-Fritillary (Video)
(Melitaea cinxia)
1... basal black dots,
2... dark dots postdiscal,
3... upperside hind-wing: dark dots postdiscal,
flies about 20.4.-20.7. throughout Austria,
caterpillar food Plantain- (Plantago-) species. |
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Heath Fritillary (Video)
(Melitaea athalia)
Most common Fritillary,
M. athalia, aurelia and britomartis are hardly distinguishable!
All hind-wing spots strongly bordered,
1... also basal bordered spots,
2... marginal strip as bright as marginal spots,
3... dark palm hair on top,
4... anal a single-colored spot with little dividing line *4,
5... upperside
flies about 1.5.-15.9. throughout Austria,
caterpillar food Plantain (Plantago lanceolata), Quail wheat (Melampyrum pratense), ... |

Nickerl's Fritillary
(Melitaea aurelia)
M. athalia, aurelia and britomartis are hardly distinguishable!
All hind-wing spots strongly bordered,
1... also basal bordered spots,,
2... marginal strip a little darker than marginal spots,
3... female red, male black-red palm hair on top,
4... anal a single-colored spot with little dividing line*4,
5... upperside
flies about 1.6.-31.7. throughout Austria,
caterpillar food Plantain (Plantago lanceolata).
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Assmann's Fritillary*5
(Melitaea britomartis)
M. athalia, aurelia and britomartis are hardly distinguishable!
All hind-wing spots strongly bordered,
1... also basal bordered spots,,
2... marginal strip darker than marginal spots,
3... dark palm hair on top,
4... anal two different colored spots with continous dividing line *4,
5... upperside
flies about 20.5.-10.8. more in eastern Austria,,
caterpillar food Plantain (Plantago lanceolata), Veronica teucrium, Rhinanthus minor. |

False Heath Fritillary (Video)
(Melitaea diamina)
All hind-wing spots strongly bordered,
1... also basal bordered spots,,
2... marginal strip clearly ocher,
3... orange-yellow postdiscal spots with dark dots,
4... upperside hind-wing very dark,
flies about 1.5.-31.7. throughout Austria at damp places,
caterpillar food Valeriana-species.
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Marsh Fritillary
(Euphyodryas aurinia)
1... basal bordered spots,
2... yellow dots with dark dot in the orange postdiscalband,
3... upperside hind-wing dark spots postdiscal, otherwise whole upperside chequered with yellow and orange spots,
flies about 10.4.-20.7. throughout Austria,
or the pale-yellow variant od the alpine Fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia var. debilis) flies about 20.6.-31.8. only in the Alps,
caterpillar food Succisa pratensis, Scabiosa-species, ... |

Scarce Fritillary (Euphydryas maturna) (Video)
1... basal bordered spots,
2... contiguous orange bands without dark dots,
3... upperside with orange marginal band and chequered with bright, yellow, orange spots,
flies about 20.5.-10.7. in northern, southern and eastern Austria,
caterpillar food Ash (Fraxinus excelsior), Plantain- (Plantago-) species, ... |

Asian Fritillary *6
(Euphydryas intermedia)
1... basal bordered spots,
2... contiguous orange bands without dark dots,
3... the dark line in the light band (discal) is often interrupted,
4... even, bright marginal spots,
5... upperside with orange marginal band and chequered with bright, yellow, orange spots*7,
flies about 20.6.-10.8. from approx 1000m (3300 feet) in the Alps of southern Austria,
caterpillar food Blue Honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea). |

Cynthia's Fritillary *2
(Euphydryas cynthia)
1...basal bordered spots,
2... contiguous orange bands without dark dots,
3... female has discal no line in bright band,
4... male is on the upperside basal and discal white,
5... upperside female,
flies about 20.6.-10.8. from approx 900m (2300 feet) in the Alps of western and southern Austria,
caterpillar food Plantain (Plantago alpina), Viola calcarata. |
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Little Fritillary *3
(Melitaea asteria)
looks like Heath Fritillary, but much smaller,
all hind-wing-spots strongly bordered,
1... also basal bordered spots,
2... only ONE marginal line,
3... upperside sprayed grey,
flies about a 1.7.-31.8. from approx 2000m (6600 feet) in the Alps of western Austria,
caterpillar food Alpen-Plantain (Plantago alpina). |

Grison's Fritillary *8
(Melitaea varia)
looks like Heath Fritillary,
all hind-wing-spots strongly bordered,
1... also basal bordered spots,
2... shiny white middle-band (difference to Heath Fritillary),
3... upperside fore-wing: postdiscal-line thin,
flies about 20.6.-31.8. from about 1200m (3900 feet) in the Alps of western Austria,
caterpillar food Plantain (Plantago alpina), Gentiana-species.
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1... Argynninae meens Heliconiinae and Boloria, and Melitaeinae meens Melitaea, Mellicta, Hypodryas und Euphydryas.
2... Watercolor of Jacob Hübner, 1805.
3... Watercolor of A. Spuler, 1910
4... differentiator of Thomas Netter and Jürgen Hensle on http://www.lepiforum.de/lepiwiki.pl?Melitaea_Britomartis (in German) from 14.3.2021.
5... symbole picture
6... retouched maturna, underside watercolor of A. Spuler, 1910.
7... upperside watercolor of Ménétriés, 1859.
8... watercolor of R. Meyer-Dür, 1851.
The species that are most likely to be encountered in Austria, Central Europe, are described in black letters. The eastern and southern parts of Austria are warmer than the western, where you find mountains up to 12500 feet (Alps).
Unless otherwise stated all shown animals were photographed and filmed alive in their natural freedom and left there undamaged. Old animals are difficult to identify. A scientific clear assignement to a certain species is not possible by studying the external characteristics using photos. Photos and classification are from Dolores and Peter Baldia, Vienna, Austria, Europe. Idea, texts, translations, website programming and design were created by Dolores Baldia. The homepage exists since 13.1. 2018. It is a free private developement. This fritillary identification aid was created on march 20, 2021. |
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See also ...
Blues, Coppers, Hairstreaks compared |
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