Edwards' Fritillary - Hodges#4454
Speyeria edwardsii
This record describes Speyeria edwardsii (species). Recorded family: Nymphalidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Upperside of both wings tawny orange with black border and markings. Underside green or gray-green with narrow buff submarginal band and metallic silver markings.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Papilionoidea
- Family
- Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
- Subfamily
- Heliconiinae
- Tribe
- Argynnini
- Genus
- Speyeria (Greater Fritillaries)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Short-grass prairie, foothills, meadows, fields, road edges.
Geographic Range
Short-grass prairie and western Rocky Mountains from southern Alberta east to the central Dakotas and western Nebraska, then south to northeastern New Mexico.
Seasonal Activity
One brood from late June to early September.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Caterpillar: Violets including Viola nuttallii and V. adunca Adult: Flower nectar
Life History
Males patrol in open areas for females. Females lay eggs on litter near violets. First-stage unfed caterpillars hibernate; in the spring they eat host plant leaves.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Speyeria edwardsii. 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 Edwards' Fritillary - Hodges#4454 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Jason D. Roberts , David Ferguson
Frequently Asked Questions About Edwards' Fritillary - Hodges#4454
What is Edwards' Fritillary - Hodges#4454?
Edwards' Fritillary - Hodges#4454 (Speyeria edwardsii) is a species in the family Nymphalidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Edwards' Fritillary - Hodges#4454?
63-86mm
How do you identify Edwards' Fritillary - Hodges#4454?
Upperside of both wings tawny orange with black border and markings. Underside green or gray-green with narrow buff submarginal band and metallic silver markings.
Where is Edwards' Fritillary - Hodges#4454 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Short-grass prairie, foothills, meadows, fields, road edges. |
| Range | Short-grass prairie and western Rocky Mountains from southern Alberta east to the central Dakotas and western Nebraska, then south to northeastern New Mexico. |
What does Edwards' Fritillary - Hodges#4454 eat?
The diet of the Edwards' Fritillary - Hodges#4454 includes Caterpillar: Violets including Viola nuttallii and V. adunca Adult: Flower nectar.
When is Edwards' Fritillary - Hodges#4454 active?
Edwards' Fritillary - Hodges#4454: seasonal activity - One brood from late June to early September..
What is the life cycle of a Edwards' Fritillary - Hodges#4454?
Males patrol in open areas for females. Females lay eggs on litter near violets. First-stage unfed caterpillars hibernate; in the spring they eat host plant leaves.