 |
The Dark Green Fritillary is the most widespread fritillary found in the British Isles and is a pleasure to see as it flies powerfully over its grassland habitats, frequently stopping to nectar on Thistles and Knapweed. It gets its name from the green hue found on the underside of the hindwings, which are peppered with large silver spots. This butterfly can be found throughout the British Isles, although it is less common in central and eastern England. Outside of central Scotland and southern England, it is most frequently found in coastal areas and is the only fritillary found in Orkney and the Outer Hebrides. Despite its powerful flight, it is somewhat surprising that this species is not particularly mobile, staying within its breeding grounds. Subspecies: Argynnis aglaja aglaja The nominate subspecies was first defined in Linnaeus (1758) as shown here (type locality: Sweden). The British population is represented by this subspecies.
Form: Argynnis aglaja aglaja f. scotica This form was first defined in Watkins (1923) (type locality: Lochinver, West Sutherland, Scotland). The exact distribution of the form scotica is uncertain; while authorities agree on the status of this form in Scotland, there is no consensus on its status elsewhere. For example, Riley (2007) suggests that this form is also found throughout the population in Ireland, although this is questioned by Nash (2012). Clearly, more analysis needs to be done. In Scotland the form scotica is found north of a line between the Clyde Isles in the west and North Aberdeenshire in the east. It is found in most of the western isles and is also present in Orkney. Emmet (1990) and Riley (2007) elevate this form to subspecific status. This form differs from the nominate form as follows: 1. It is generally larger in size. 2. It has much heavier black markings on both upper and undersides, especially in the female. 3. The underside has a darker green flush, with more prominent silver spots on both fore and hindwings.
Adults generally emerge in the middle of June, reaching a peak in early July. In northern Scotland, adults emerge a little later at the end of June, reaching a peak at the end of July and early August. There is one generation each year. Subspecies: Argynnis aglaja aglaja Form: Argynnis aglaja aglaja f. scotica The chart(s) above have been correlated with the phenology plot below, taken from the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme. The blue line gives average counts over the full data set from 1976 to date, and the red line gives the average for the last year. 
The characteristic habitat of this butterfly is open, windswept calcareous grassland. However, in some areas it can also be found in woodland clearings and coastal dunes.
The primary larval foodplants are Common Dog-violet (Viola riviniana), Hairy Violet (Viola hirta) and Marsh Violet (Viola palustris).
Adults feed primarily on Thistles (Cirsium spp. and Carduus spp.). Carline Thistle (Carlina vulgaris) and Knapweeds (Centaurea spp.) are also used.
Both sexes are avid nectar feeders and typically feed in early morning or late afternoon, when they will constantly fly from flower head to flower head staying at each flower for only a few seconds. This behaviour makes them very difficult to observe and it is sometimes easier to find a favourite flower and wait for a butterfly to come to you! The males are the more conspicuous of the two sexes, and can be seen patrolling over large areas of habitat looking for a virgin female which often rest low down in vegetation. Once found, mating takes place almost immediately. A mating pair may be found resting on vegetation and will even continue to nectar while coupled. Females are somewhat-easier to see when egg-laying, where they intersperse periods of nectaring with basking and bouts of egg-laying, when they will crawl deep in vegetation, searching out the lushest growths of larval foodplant before laying a single egg, although several eggs are often laid in the same area. Subspecies: Argynnis aglaja aglaja
Form: Argynnis aglaja aglaja f. scotica
Description to be completed. Unclassified Aberrations
Eggs are laid either directly on the foodplant, or on a suitable platform nearby, such as a twig, grass stem or dead leaf. Eggs are yellow when first laid but turn a dark purple after a few days and, eventually, a dark grey just before the larva emerges. This stage lasts between 2 and 3 weeks.
The larva eats the eggshell on hatching and immediately enters hibernation in a curled up leaf or other piece of debris. The larva emerges in the spring and starts to feed on the tenderest new growth of the foodplant, either eating large chunks out of the leaf lobes, or eating the leaf entirely with the stem left standing. The larva is most active during sunny periods and can often be seen wandering across bare ground or short turf in search of the foodplant. The mature larva has a distinct colouring, being mostly black with a feint yellow band running down its back and a series of red spots running down each side. There are 5 moults in total.
The larva creates a loose tent by drawing together several leaves and other pieces of vegetation together. The pupa is formed upside down, secured to the top of the tent by the cremaster. This stages lasts between 3 and 4 weeks, depending on the weather.
High Brown FritillaryThe Dark Green Fritillary and High Brown Fritillary are most easily distinguished by their undersides, since only the High Brown Fritillary has a row of "ocelli" just inside the outer margin. In addition, as the name suggests, the High Brown Fritillary has a predominately brown hue to the underside, whereas the Dark Green Fritillary is predominately green. 
Dark Green Fritillary (left) and High Brown Fritillary (right) It is much more difficult to distinguish the Dark Green Fritillary from the High Brown Fritillary based on their uppersides. However, the first row of dots from the outside edge of the forewing upperside do give a clue - the 3rd dot from the apex of the forewing is in line with the other dots in the Dark Green Fritillary, but indented toward the body in the High Brown Fritillary. 
Dark Green Fritillary (left) and High Brown Fritillary (right) Queen of Spain FritillaryDescription to be completed. Silver-washed FritillaryDescription to be completed.
Click here to see the distribution of this species overlaid with specific site information. Alternatively, select one of the sites listed below.
Although this species has declined considerably since the 1970s, especially in eastern England, the butterfly remains our most widespread fritillary and is not considered a priority species for conservation efforts.
From The State of Butterflies in Britain and Ireland and the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP) (2007 review).
The following links provide additional information on this butterfly.
The species description provided here has been derived from the author's own observations and the information contained in the following works:
Site brought to you by Webified |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![Dark Green Fritillary - imago - Inverness-shire - Unknown date [Adrian Riley]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/3f86b3e08a2f9d3c31d4a22c6a50c25f.jpg "Dark Green Fritillary - imago - Inverness-shire - Unknown date [Adrian Riley]")
![Dark Green Fritillary - ovum - Unknown location - Unknown date (2) [REARED] [Reg Fry]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/49ab474406009ffe6e67c8c8536ca350.jpg "Dark Green Fritillary - ovum - Unknown location - Unknown date (2) [REARED] [Reg Fry]")
![Dark Green Fritillary - ovum - Unknown location - Unknown date [REARED] [Reg Fry]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/085b62fda16f25472e514007cb6932e9.jpg "Dark Green Fritillary - ovum - Unknown location - Unknown date [REARED] [Reg Fry]")
![Dark Green Fritillary - larva - Thatcham - 28-May-06 (0142) [REARED]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/46d80b367fa0404e30abd7c970c92762.jpg "Dark Green Fritillary - larva - Thatcham - 28-May-06 (0142) [REARED]")
![Dark Green Fritillary - larva - Thatcham - 28-May-06 (0143) [REARED]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/2b455706b0ba7a9cebc373fbf98e60ec.jpg "Dark Green Fritillary - larva - Thatcham - 28-May-06 (0143) [REARED]")
![Dark Green Fritillary - larva - Unknown location - Unknown date [REARED] [Reg Fry]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/939cd8200ec6e702e38d49319f94d9ee.jpg "Dark Green Fritillary - larva - Unknown location - Unknown date [REARED] [Reg Fry]")
![Dark Green Fritillary - larva - Waxham Dunes - 15-May-2005 [Francis Farrow]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/c68b80a8fc5c37ed4f864e349f57abf9.jpg "Dark Green Fritillary - larva - Waxham Dunes - 15-May-2005 [Francis Farrow]")
![Dark Green Fritillary - larva - Thatcham - 09-Jun-12 (1) [REARED]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/815aac7792affbf053569ce6a6722573.jpg "Dark Green Fritillary - larva - Thatcham - 09-Jun-12 (1) [REARED]")
![Dark Green Fritillary - larva - Thatcham - 22-May-12 (2) [REARED]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/f45c9cc8908074468b57765362c583fb.jpg "Dark Green Fritillary - larva - Thatcham - 22-May-12 (2) [REARED]")
![Dark Green Fritillary - larva - Thatcham - 22-May-12 (3) [REARED]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/24e6df6ef8941650ae8fa2f8abd47b6f.jpg "Dark Green Fritillary - larva - Thatcham - 22-May-12 (3) [REARED]")
![Dark Green Fritillary - pupa - Thatcham - 09-Jun-06 (0234) [REARED]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/ca2e33ab57ed0bff28eedd11dbe65d58.jpg "Dark Green Fritillary - pupa - Thatcham - 09-Jun-06 (0234) [REARED]")
