North American Butterflies and Moths List

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Butterflies of North America

Pacific Fritillary (Boloria epithore)
JPG -- species photo

Pacific Fritillary (Boloria epithore [W. H. Edwards])

Wing span: 1 3/8 - 1 3/4 inches (3.5 - 4.5 cm).

Identification: Tip of forewing rounded. Upperside bright orange; black markings large on basal half of wing, small on outer half. Underside orange with purple-brown markings; hindwing with postmedian row of dark circles.

Life history: Males patrol for females all day in woods and meadows. Overwintering is by fourth-stage caterpillars.

Flight: One flight from May-August.

Caterpillar hosts: Violets including Viola ocellata, V. sempervirens, and V. glabella.

Adult food: Flower nectar.

Habitat: Openings in moist forests, wet meadows, streamsides.

Range: Central British Columbia east and south to Alberta and Montana, south along Pacific Coast to central California.

Conservation: Populations in California's Santa Cruz Mountains are limited and may be in jeopardy.

The Nature Conservancy Global Rank: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.

Management needs: Inventory and monitor limited populations and propose any necessary conservation actions.

References:


Scott, J. A. 1986. The butterflies of North America. Stanford University Press, 

     Stanford, Calif. 583 pages, 64 color plates.



Tilden, J. W. 1986. A field guide to western butterflies. Houghton-Mifflin Co., 

     Boston, Mass. 370 pages, 23 color plates.

Author: Jane M. Struttmann

Pacific Fritillary (Boloria epithore)
distribution map
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