variegated fritillary

(Euptoieta claudia)

Conservation Status
variegated fritillary
Photo by Dan W. Andree
  IUCN Red List

not listed

 
  NatureServe

N5 - Secure

SNRB - Unranked Breeding

 
  Minnesota

not listed

 
           
           
           
 
Description
 
 

Variegated fritillary is a medium-sized, migratory, fritillary butterfly. The wingspan is 1¾ to 2½. Females can be much larger than males.

The upper side of both wings are orange with dark brown bands and spots. On the outer margin there is a band (marginal band) of orange spots that have dark borders and are separated by heavy, dark veins. All of the spots are pale and distinct, even at the wing tip. There is an orange submarginal band with dark, round spots, and a pale orange median band with no spots. The veins in the submarginal band, median band, and base are dark and thin.

The base of the forewing is reddish-orange. The outer edge has a thick, black border. There is a pale orange spot near the center with a thick, black border. There are two black chevrons closer to the body. The base of the hindwing is reddish-orange with some thin black markings.

The underside of the hindwing is brown with thin, white veins; a wide, pale, postmedian band; a pale marginal band; and no conspicuous pale spots. The underside of the forewing is pale orange with a reddish orange base, black markings, and a pale orange spot rimmed in black in the forewing cell.

The caterpillar is orangish-red, shiny, and up to 2 long. Each abdominal segment has a white, footprint-shaped spot at the middle of the upper (dorsal) surface. On each side of each segment there is a dorsal row, subdorsal row, and spiracular row of black with white spots. Each of these rows has a single, branched, spike-like projection (scolus). There are two longer scoli on the prothorax that project well forward of the head. The scoli are black with an iridescent, purplish-blue reflection.

 
     
 

Size

 
 

1¾ to 2½ wingspan

 
     
 

Similar Species

 
     
     
 
Habitat
 
 

Open fields, meadows, roadsides

 
     
 
Biology
 
 

Season

 
 

Two or three broods; mid-June to mid-September

 
     
 

Behavior

 
 

 

 
     
 

Life Cycle

 
 

Adults migrate from the south, first appearing in Minnesota around mid-June. The female lays pale green or cream colored eggs singly on the leaves and stems of host plants. The larvae eat the leaves, stems, and flowers of host plants. There are usually two broods per year, sometimes three.

Adults migrate south in the fall. They overwinter as caterpillars and possibly also as adults in frost-free areas.

 
     
 

Larva Hosts

 
 

Violet (Viola spp.), flax (Linum spp.), plantain (Plantago spp.), Canada moonseed, and May-apple.

 
     
 

Adult Food

 
 

Nectar of dogbane (Apocynum spp.), milkweed (Asclepias spp.), aster (Symphyotrichum spp.), beggarticks (Bidens spp.), thistle (Cirsium spp.), narrow-leaved purple coneflower, fleabane (Erigeron spp.), boneset (Eupatorium spp.), alfalfa, red clover, ironweed (Vernonia spp.), Joe Pye weed (Eutrochium spp.), purple loosestrife, and bog Labrador tea.

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Distribution Map

 

Sources

24, 27, 29, 30, 82.

 
  7/26/2022      
         
 

Occurrence

 
 

 

 
         
 
Taxonomy
 
 

Order

Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths)  
 

Superfamily

Papilionoidea (butterflies)  
 

Family

Nymphalidae (brush-footed butterflies)  
 

Subfamily

Heliconiinae (fritillaries and longwings)  
 

Tribe

Argynnini (fritillaries)  
  Subtribe Euptoietina  
 

Genus

Euptoieta  
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

 

 
       
 

Common Names

 
 

variegated fritillary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glossary

Prothorax

The first (forward) segment of the thorax on an insect, bearing the first pair of legs but not wings.

 

Scolus

A spiny, branched projection from a larval body wall, the branches terminating with a single stiff, hair-like or bristle-like tip.

 

Spiracle

A small opening on the surface of an insect through which the insect breathes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
Visitor Photos
 
           
 

Share your photo of this insect.

 
  This button not working for you?
Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.
Attach one or more photos and, if you like, a caption.
 
 

Dan W. Andree

 
 

Variegated Fritillary...

A small butterfly though it looks large in the photo. Maybe 2.5 - 3 inch wing span at most.

  variegated fritillary  
           
 

Seen and photographed a male in pursuit of a female Variegated. Not the best photo only got a couple shots at them. It was quite windy out that day. They can real flit around and sometimes spook easily.

Interesting butterfly and some were slightly larger than others in size. Also the color patterns were neat and varied in color tones. Some looked almost painted with rich colors and detailing and some were paler and had scruffy wing areas. But then they have to deal with prairie winds etc. and they can get whipped around etc.

  variegated fritillary  
 

Dave Jungst

 
 

At Glacial Lakes State Park

 
    variegated fritillary      
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
    variegated fritillary   variegated fritillary  

 

Camera

     
 
Slideshows
 
Euptoieta claudia (Variegated Fritillary)
Allen Chartier
  Euptoieta claudia (Variegated Fritillary)  

 

slideshow

       
 
Visitor Videos
 
       
 

Share your video of this mammal.

 
  This button not working for you?
Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.
Attach a video, a YouTube link, or a cloud storage link.
 
 

Cheryl TeHennepe

 
  variegated fritillary 01
Jul 26, 2022
 
   
 
About

variegated fritillary (Euptoieta claudia)
7/24/2022
caterpillar 1 day before moving off pansies to pupate
Photo by Cheryl TeHennepe
http://www.minnesotaseasons.com/Insects/variegated_fritillary.html

   
       
 
Other Videos
 
  IMG_0745.MOV
Walter Sanford
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Nov 12, 2011

A short video clip of a Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia)

 
  Variegated fritillary caterpillar
Bug of the Week
 
   
 
About

Published on Jun 8, 2012

This "hungry, hungry caterpillar," the larval stage of the Variegated Fritillary butterfly, makes quick work of a delicious flower blossom.

 
  Courting Variegated Fritillaries
Dragonfly Woman
 
   
 
About

Published on Aug 23, 2013

A male variegated fritillary tries to get it on with a female!

 
  Variegated Fritillary Butterfly Eclosing 1080p macro
timvid
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Jun 20, 2011

http://www.WildlifeTheater.com

 
  Variegated fritillary caterpillar eating a passion vine leaf
ba5sman
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Jul 2, 2009

Variegated fritillary caterpillar eating a passion vine leaf

 

 

Camcorder

 
 
Visitor Sightings
 
           
 

Report a sighting of this insect.

 
  This button not working for you?
Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.
Be sure to include a location.
 
  Dan W. Andree
8/21/2019

Location: Frenchman’s Bluff SNA out in rural Norman County, Mn.

A small butterfly though it looks large in the photo. Maybe 2.5 - 3 inch wing span at most.

variegated fritillary  
  Dave Jungst
8/13/2014

Location: Pope County

At Glacial Lakes State Park

variegated fritillary  
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings
 
   

 

 

Binoculars


Last Updated:

About Us | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | © MinnesotaSeasons.com. All rights reserved.