regal fritillary

not listed

N3 - Vulnerable

S3 - Vulnerable

Special Concern

Species in Greatest Conservation Need

2⅝″ to 4⅛″ wingspan

Tall grass prairie, wet fields, meadows, marshes.

One brood: mid-June to early September.

In Minnesota, mostly prairie violet (Viola pedatifida var. pedatifida), but also birdfoot violet (Viola pedata) and possibly northern bog violet is (Viola nephrophylla).

Nectar from flowers of milkweed, thistle, red clover, and mountain mint.

Sources

6, 7, 20, 21, 24, 29, 30, 71, 75, 82.

Uncommon

Female Regal...

Same area same regal. I got a photo of another female but it isn’t the best just good enough for me to identify it was a different female similar in size to this one.

The 3rd female was way far away from these two and smaller. She flew right below me unexpectedly. I didn’t even see her until she was about 3 ft. away from me and below. A wind gust came up and as I was getting the camera up she somehow vanished. So didn’t get any photo of that one. But she was a bit smaller.

The two larger similar sized ones were nearing the size of a smaller monarch.

Female Regal Fritillary...

I finally seen a couple females at Frenchman’s Bluff SNA. There were many monarchs but only a couple regals. I don’t know if you post where they are located since they are a vulnerable species.

Anyway she was faded a bit and had a chunk torn out of one of her lower wings but seemed overall in good health for this late in Summer. Guessing she was in the egg laying time of her life. So I was glad to see they didn’t go entirely extinct from the previous 2021 season of extreme heat and drought conditions. The prairies are in good condition with a lot of flowers in bloom right now. Had rain recently so growth is good. Seen this female regal 8-25-22.

Male Regal...

A rarer sight compared to even the Monarch’s. Seen this male which stopped briefly to feed before flying off again patrolling the prairie for a female. Regals are a true native to the Tallgrass Prairies. They are born there, live a short life and pretty much die there. A lot harder to find than some of the other species. I always consider any a rare find and one of beauty.

Male Regal Fritillary down in the grass...

It was a hard angle to try capture this male regal fritillary. It kind of crawled around and paused. A breeze blowing grasses made it difficult to get a clear shot but it was a beautiful butterfly and is also a species of special concern here in Minnesota. The colors made me think of golden tiger orange and a midnight blue on its lower wing areas in sunlight. This was about as good a photos I could get without scaring it.

From open to closed wings...

from late June to first couple days of July 2021

Recently emerged male regal...

This male regal landed on a prairie plant and almost looked like it was floating in air. A male that just recently emerged I encountered earlier this 2021 season. I filmed it and the breeze moved its wings on and off while it remained perched. I cropped a 4k frame grab to get the photos. I’m sure by now this male has faded some and probably has worn torn wings which happens once they patrol the prairies in a hurry to find a mate during their very short lives. The wind, heat, smoke from forest fires and this seasons drought conditions as well as predators can have an adverse effect on butterflies etc. Particularly on species of special concern like regals which are not as common or abundant as some other species.

Wings open...

Male Regal Fritillary early July 2021. A second male is behind this one barely noticeable. Beautiful wing patterns and color.

Male Regal showing a little blue....

This male regal fritillary was just resting on the prairie grasses and noticed it was showing a little of that iridescent blue that occurs when the lighting hits the lower wing areas just right. Most noticeable on the right side.

Seemed like that area hit the light source more for it to show. Hopefully we can continue to keep this “Species of Special Concern” in Mn. There seems to be many programs, people or groups working to help out with “Saving the Monarch” and I think that is wonderful and they should keep doing it, but not that many promoting the survival of the Regal Fritillary. Probably because they are so less known to people.

They do not show up in as many types of places like the Monarch so it makes sense they are much less known about. I found them to be quite beautiful in the early part of their short lives and feel they should be monitored closely so they do not end up extinct like in a lot of their former ranges. Feel real fortunate to find one to film etc.

For the Regal’s…

Dan 🙂

Male Regal Fritillary butterfly wings closed...

This male regal fritillary did open and close its wings while filming it but thought I’d send one with the wings closed. Filmed it on a nice early July 2021 day which was before the smoke haze rolled in.

I did see a female regal fritillary recently I went out one early evening after work but I didn’t see it until it flew up and down wind out of view. Seen one too on feeding a prairie flower but couldn’t get set up in time to film her. The female regal is really nice too. May go out tomorrow morning the smoke haze is suppose to be less. So will see what tomorrow brings.

Bee/wasp attacking Regal's...

It tried a couple times then dive bombed and struck the male regal on the right hitting that regals body part and the regal took off and so did the other one. The bee or wasp photo where it is by itself just circled looking down at the thistle and flew off.

Regals are really beautiful early in their short lives. These are really small 4k frame grabs.

Wings wide spread....

The lighting was harsh and the temperatures warm during the morning of July 4, 2021 but the the male regal was beautiful to say the least despite the conditions. One cannot pick the type of day, lighting etc. often in certain situations in nature. This is a 4k frame grab. I always see so many more monarchs when out and about in nature than regals.

Male Regal Fritillary...

I cropped a 4k frame grab. Only seen this one single one. Beautiful butterfly.

Female Regal Fritillary down in the grass...

While I was filming her she crawled way down into the grass and out of site. I just left her be after that. Early Summer 2020 at a Prairie Preserve in Minnesota. Only seen a couple female Regals the whole 2020 season. There were times at the same preserve I didn’t see any.

Female Regal Fritillary Butterfly....

I recently filmed and photographed this female Regal Fritillary on a prairie in Minnesota. I believe she had just recently emerged and her color was beautiful.

“Regal Frtitllary Butterflies”

Regal Fritillary Bluish Sheen on lower wing -male

It shows the bluish sheen on the one wing that is in sunlight.

On a Prairie Preserve in Minnesota...

Regal Fritillary mating SNA in Mn. Really interesting wing patterns on Regals. Also that bluish sheen they can have in certain lighting on the lower wing areas is pretty cool as well. I feel fortunate to have come across the Regal and have gained a lot of respect and admiration for these butterflies.

Female Regal Fritillary & Goldenrod Soldier Beetle....

...on a Thistle flower. Seen a lot of the Goldenrod Soldier Beetles but very few female Regal’s. Male Regal’s had pretty much died off. Noticed Monarch’s were fairly abundant throughout the preserve.

Interesting colored male ....

Regal Fritillary. This season the first I seen of any Regal Fritillary butterflies was early July. This image is from over a week later and not sure the exact date this male first emerged. Male Regal’s in particular fade in color with time. It doesn’t take that long of time either. I noticed earlier in July the males were more reddish orange with some not as reddish tinted as others. They almost glowed. Then they constantly seemed to patrol the prairie hovering above the prairie grasses etc. searching for any females that may have emerged. This male has started fading but had an interesting color tint before it would eventually fade to a dull varying grayish tan brown mix with shredded wings etc. Such short lives they live and how different they look from when they first emerge to when nearing the end of the Regal’s short life. The female Regal tends to live longer into the season due to laying her eggs. Both male and female Regal Fritillary are beautiful when in their prime of life. Certainly deserve preservation.

Male and Female Regal Fritillary...

I was real fortunate to capture the male regal after it recently emerged and feeding. Otherwise they seemed to just fly up and down the prairie areas looking for any emerged females. Hard to photograph or film then. Once in a while they land and either feed or rest but when they decide to do that is very unpredictable. Then the males go right back to looking for the female Regal. Also right now the majority of the males have faded with some shredded wings and nearing the end of their life. Stunning butterflies especially when they are just recently emerged and in the early stage of their very short lives. These were at a SNA in Minnesota. Seen more male Regal’s not that they were overly abundant or anything and only seen a couple female and at times none.

Mating Regal Fritillary.....

I was fortunate to come across a pair mating. I didn’t disturb them and they mainly sat stationary moving around slightly and once in a while opening and closing their wings. I filmed and photographed them since I am working on another regal fritillary video segment. I do not try to disturb anything in nature that I attempt to photograph or film. I figure most things in nature have enough struggles and disturbances in their lives. I will admit sometimes when walking through grasslands some insects, butterflies and even some birds can go unseen until you accidentally startled them to fly off or come into view. The mating regals were still in the same spot that day when I quietly and slowly backed away from them and left their area.

Regals are absolutely beautiful when they just emerge.

Regal Fritillary & Monarch together...

Not the best lighting etc. for photography but one cannot pick the time or type of day when nature shows up. Kind of rare to see a Regal Fritillary and Monarch close enough to get them together in a photo. Aug. 2019 was the first time I ever seen a Regal Fritillary in my life. But both are beautiful butterflies, though I seen quite a few more Monarch’s than Regal Fritillary’s. Taken Aug. 16, 2019 at a Prairie Preserve in Norman county, Mn

Regal Fritillary...

The female was just taking flight. A “species of special concern” here in Minnesota. I found them to be a really interesting butterfly adding diversity and beauty to prairie areas. A Goldenrod Soldier beetle can also been seen on the flower. Seen many of them this past season. I came across this female Regal Fritillary during the second half of the month of August 2019 on a prairie in rural Norman Co. Mn.

Regal Fritillary - female

Regal Fritillary female on...

Prairie Blazing Star flower. Filmed her too. Only seen 2 females and 1 male. The male just kept flying and wouldn’t land long enough. I did get a brief close look at the male and it was pretty nice compared to some scruffy ones I seen some weeks back.

video still of egg laying

a pair of mating Regal Fritillary butterflies

Female, Sept. 18, 2014

Female, Sept. 10, 2013

Blazing Star, Rough w/Regal Fritillary

Location: Frenchman’s Bluff SNA

I finally seen a couple females at Frenchman’s Bluff SNA. There were many monarchs but only a couple regals. I don’t know if you post where they are located since they are a vulnerable species.

Anyway she was faded a bit and had a chunk torn out of one of her lower wings but seemed overall in good health for this late in Summer. Guessing she was in the egg laying time of her life. So I was glad to see they didn’t go entirely extinct from the previous 2021 season of extreme heat and drought conditions. The prairies are in good condition with a lot of flowers in bloom right now. Had rain recently so growth is good. Seen this female regal 8-25-22.

At Frenchman’s Bluff SNA. I had no idea what it was. At first from a distance thought it might be a darker colored Variegated Fritillary but got closer to it and seen it was a butterfly I had never seen before. Its colors reminded or made me think of fall harvest decorations. Like fall color leafs and orange and brown etc. colors pumpkin colors etc. Beautiful butterfly. Also for a first time seen some Common Copper Butterflies at Twin Valley Prairie SNA. I filmed and photographed them they were little and really cute. I got some photos of that Tortoiseshell so will see how they turned out I filmed it but not sure if I got it very good. I haven’t uploaded the footage to a larger monitor. I know the Common Copper photos and video is really nice so hope some of the Milbert’s Tortoiseshell is nice to. I do think some photos will be but not so sure about the video.

Seen so many Monarch’s at both SNA’s mentioned here. I swear a couple hundred or more. They were feeding on mostly prairie blazing star flowers. I could carefully walk through areas and monarchs flew up 3-6 feet in front of me. Some just sat and fed if I was motionless. Not a very spooky butterfly. A few were still mating but most feeding. Must have been a hatch out or something. Didn’t see any regals and haven’t seen any at all at Frenchman’s this whole season but did see a few males at the other mentioned SNA which was nice to see.

Monarchs seem to be doing extremely well in the two mention SNA’s which is good but some other lesser known species not so much. Monarchs were the only species of large butterflies seen. Only seen 2 painted ladies which sometimes they can be all over the place but not a whole lot of species observed this season other than the Monarchs and happy to say lots of them. Concerning though for the other species.

… Seen the Tortoiseshell and Common Coppers yesterday mid afternoon to late afternoon.

Location: Norman Co., Mn.

A rarer sight compared to even the Monarch’s. Seen this male which stopped briefly to feed before flying off again patrolling the prairie for a female. Regals are a true native to the Tallgrass Prairies. They are born there, live a short life and pretty much die there. A lot harder to find than some of the other species. I always consider any a rare find and one of beauty.

Location: Kellogg Weaver Dunes SNA, Weaver Dunes Unit

Location: a Prairie Preserve in Mn.

It was a hard angle to try capture this male regal fritillary. It kind of crawled around and paused. A breeze blowing grasses made it difficult to get a clear shot but it was a beautiful butterfly and is also a species of special concern here in Minnesota. The colors made me think of golden tiger orange and a midnight blue on its lower wing areas in sunlight. This was about as good a photos I could get without scaring it.

Location: Norman Co., Mn.

from late June to first couple days of July 2021

Location: Rural Norman Co., Mn.

This male regal landed on a prairie plant and almost looked like it was floating in air. A male that just recently emerged I encountered earlier this 2021 season. I filmed it and the breeze moved its wings on and off while it remained perched. I cropped a 4k frame grab to get the photos. I’m sure by now this male has faded some and probably has worn torn wings which happens once they patrol the prairies in a hurry to find a mate during their very short lives. The wind, heat, smoke from forest fires and this seasons drought conditions as well as predators can have an adverse effect on butterflies etc. Particularly on species of special concern like regals which are not as common or abundant as some other species.

Location: Rural Norman Co., Mn.

Male Regal Fritillary early July 2021. A second male is behind this one barely noticeable. Beautiful wing patterns and color.

Location: Rural Norman Co., Mn.

This male regal fritillary was just resting on the prairie grasses and noticed it was showing a little of that iridescent blue that occurs when the lighting hits the lower wing areas just right. Most noticeable on the right side.

Seemed like that area hit the light source more for it to show. Hopefully we can continue to keep this “Species of Special Concern” in Mn. There seems to be many programs, people or groups working to help out with “Saving the Monarch” and I think that is wonderful and they should keep doing it, but not that many promoting the survival of the Regal Fritillary. Probably because they are so less known to people.

They do not show up in as many types of places like the Monarch so it makes sense they are much less known about. I found them to be quite beautiful in the early part of their short lives and feel they should be monitored closely so they do not end up extinct like in a lot of their former ranges. Feel real fortunate to find one to film etc.

For the Regal’s…

Dan 🙂

Location: Rural Norman Co., Mn.

This male regal fritillary did open and close its wings while filming it but thought I’d send one with the wings closed. Filmed it on a nice early July 2021 day which was before the smoke haze rolled in.

I did see a female regal fritillary recently I went out one early evening after work but I didn’t see it until it flew up and down wind out of view. Seen one too on feeding a prairie flower but couldn’t get set up in time to film her. The female regal is really nice too. May go out tomorrow morning the smoke haze is suppose to be less. So will see what tomorrow brings.

Location: Norman Co., Mn.

It tried a couple times then dive bombed and struck the male regal on the right hitting that regals body part and the regal took off and so did the other one. The bee or wasp photo where it is by itself just circled looking down at the thistle and flew off. Regals are really beautiful early in their short lives. These are really small 4k frame grabs.

Location: Norman Co., Mn.

I cropped a 4k frame grab. Only seen this one single one. Beautiful butterfly.

Location: Norman Co., Mn.

Yesterday 6-26-21 ...I did see one...Male Regal Fritillary got close enough to identify it while it paused briefly but it took off and I tried to keep track of it but lost track. It was the only one I seen out there. Seen a Great Spangled Fritillary too. Anyway the regals are emerging or at least starting to.

Last season I didn’t see any males until July 7, 2020 but I hadn’t been out there many times before that so they could have been around before that. I’ll try get out there again maybe today or sometime during a late afternoon this coming week to see if I see
any. I’d like to catch one with its wings open and that iridescent bluish sheen showing on both wings. I almost filmed one like that last season but just as I got the camera focused on it closed it wings then only opened them as it took off. They are a challenge but they are such a neat butterfly particularly if you can catch them just after emerging when fresh new wings etc. Pretty fortunate to have that species here.

Location: Norman Co., Mn.

While I was filming her she crawled way down into the grass and out of site. I just left her be after that. Early Summer 2020 at a Prairie Preserve in Minnesota. Only seen a couple female Regals the whole 2020 season. There were times at the same preserve I didn’t see any.

Location: Norman Co., Mn.

I recently filmed and photographed this female Regal Fritillary on a prairie in Minnesota. I believe she had just recently emerged and her color was beautiful.

Location: Scientific and Natural Area in Norman Co. Mn.

...on a Thistle flower. Seen a lot of the Goldenrod Soldier Beetles but very few female Regal’s. Male Regal’s had pretty much died off. Noticed Monarch’s were fairly abundant throughout the preserve.

Location: a Scientific and Natural Area in Norman county, Mn.

Regal Fritillary. This season the first I seen of any Regal Fritillary butterflies was early July. This image is from over a week later and not sure the exact date this male first emerged. Male Regal’s in particular fade in color with time. It doesn’t take that long of time either. I noticed earlier in July the males were more reddish orange with some not as reddish tinted as others. They almost glowed. Then they constantly seemed to patrol the prairie hovering above the prairie grasses etc. searching for any females that may have emerged. This male has started fading but had an interesting color tint before it would eventually fade to a dull varying grayish tan brown mix with shredded wings etc. Such short lives they live and how different they look from when they first emerge to when nearing the end of the Regal’s short life. The female Regal tends to live longer into the season due to laying her eggs. Both male and female Regal Fritillary are beautiful when in their prime of life. Certainly deserve preservation.

Location: SNA in Mn

It shows the bluish sheen on the one wing that is in sunlight.

Location: SNA in Mn

Regal Fritillary mating SNA in Mn. Really interesting wing patterns on Regals. Also that bluish sheen they can have in certain lighting on the lower wing areas is pretty cool as well. I feel fortunate to have come across the Regal and have gained a lot of respect and admiration for these butterflies.

Location: SNA in Minnesota

I was real fortunate to capture the male regal after it recently emerged and feeding. Otherwise they seemed to just fly up and down the prairie areas looking for any emerged females. Hard to photograph or film then. Once in a while they land and either feed or rest but when they decide to do that is very unpredictable. Then the males go right back to looking for the female Regal. Also right now the majority of the males have faded with some shredded wings and nearing the end of their life. Stunning butterflies especially when they are just recently emerged and in the early stage of their very short lives. These were at a SNA in Minnesota. Seen more male Regal’s not that they were overly abundant or anything and only seen a couple female and at times none.

Location: SNA in Mn.

I was fortunate to come across a pair mating. I didn’t disturb them and they mainly sat stationary moving around slightly and once in a while opening and closing their wings. I filmed and photographed them since I am working on another regal fritillary video segment. I do not try to disturb anything in nature that I attempt to photograph or film. I figure most things in nature have enough struggles and disturbances in their lives. I will admit sometimes when walking through grasslands some insects, butterflies and even some birds can go unseen until you accidentally startled them to fly off or come into view. The mating regals were still in the same spot that day when I quietly and slowly backed away from them and left their area.

Location: SNA in Norman Co. Mn.

Regals are absolutely beautiful when they just emerge.

Location: Norman Co. Mn.

Not the best lighting etc. for photography but one cannot pick the time or type of day when nature shows up. Kind of rare to see a Regal Fritillary and Monarch close enough to get them together in a photo. Aug. 2019 was the first time I ever seen a Regal Fritillary in my life. But both are beautiful butterflies, though I seen quite a few more Monarch’s than Regal Fritillary’s. Taken Aug. 16, 2019 at a Prairie Preserve in Norman county, Mn

Location: Rural Norman Co. Mn.

The female was just taking flight. A “species of special concern” here in Minnesota. I found them to be a really interesting butterfly adding diversity and beauty to prairie areas. A Goldenrod Soldier beetle can also been seen on the flower. Seen many of them this past season. I came across this female Regal Fritillary during the second half of the month of August 2019 on a prairie in rural Norman Co. Mn.

Location: Rural Norman Co. Mn.

Location: Frenchman’s Bluff SNA

Regal Fritillary female on...

Prairie Blazing Star flower. Filmed her too. Only seen 2 females and 1 male. The male just kept flying and wouldn’t land long enough. I did get a brief close look at the male and it was pretty nice compared to some scruffy ones I seen some weeks back.

Location: Hole-in-the-Mountain Prairie

Location: Starbuck W.M.A., Pope County, MN

video still of egg laying

Location: Miller Hills W.P.A. in northwestern Kandiyohi County, MN

a pair of mating Regal Fritillary butterflies

Location: Pope County, Ben Wade Township, on a WPA

Female, Sept. 18, 2014

Location: Pope County, Chippewa Falls Township, near Terrace

Female, Sept. 10, 2013