Dark Green Fritillary
Speyeria aglaja
This record describes Speyeria aglaja (species). Recorded family: Nymphalidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
It gets its name from the green hue found on the underside of the hindwings, which are peppered with large silver spots. Calcareous grassland habitats, frequently stopping to nectar on Thistles and Knapweed.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Nymphalidae
- Genus
- Speyeria
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Calcareous grassland habitats, frequently stopping to nectar on Thistles and Knapweed.
Seasonal Activity
Late June to early September.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Widespread but rather local in Britain.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Speyeria aglaja. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Dark Green Fritillary (9)
Frequently Asked Questions About Dark Green Fritillary
What is Dark Green Fritillary?
Dark Green Fritillary (Speyeria aglaja) is a species in the family Nymphalidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Dark Green Fritillary found?
Habitat: Calcareous grassland habitats, frequently stopping to nectar on Thistles and Knapweed.
When is Dark Green Fritillary active?
Dark Green Fritillary: seasonal activity - Late June to early September..