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Butterfly taxonomy (classification) The skippers The swallowtails The whites The hairstreaks, coppers and blues. Includes the Duke of Burgundy. The nymphalids, fritillaries and browns. Includes the Monarch.
High Brown Fritillary Male - Arnside Knott, Cumbria 9-July-09
Wingspan
55 - 69mm
Photo © Vince Massimo
High Brown Fritillary
Argynnis adippe
Pronunciation ar-GIN-iss
a-DIP-ee
B&F No.: 1606
Superfamily: Papilionoidea
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Argynninae
Genus: Argynnis
Subgenus:  
Species: adippe (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)
Subspecies:vulgoadippe (Verity, 1929)
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Introduction  

The High Brown Fritillary is a butterfly over which there is much concern due to a decline of over 90% since the 1970s. One cause of decline is believed to be the cessation of woodland coppicing, a practice which opens up new areas of suitable habitat that the butterfly is able to colonise once existing sites have become overgrown.

This butterfly is easily mistaken for a Dark Green Fritillary and the two often fly together, making a positive identification almost impossible unless the butterfly is at rest. The two species are most easily distinguished by their undersides, where the High Brown Fritillary has a row of brown spots between the outer margin and the silver spangles, which are missing in the Dark Green Fritillary. A less-reliable identification guide is that, as its name suggests, the High Brown Fritillary has a predominately brown hue to the underside, whereas the Dark Green Fritillary is predominately green. Once common and widespread in large woodlands in southern, central and north-west England and parts of Wales, this butterfly is now confined to sites in the Morecambe Bay area of north-west England, North Devon and South Devon (including Dartmoor), Exmoor in South Somerset, and a few sites in Wales.

Subspecies: Argynnis adippe adippe

The nominate subspecies was first defined in Denis & Schiffermüller (1775) as shown here (type locality: Vienna, Austria). It is not found in the British Isles.

Subspecies: Argynnis adippe vulgoadippe

This subspecies was first defined in Verity (1929) as shown here (type locality: New Forest, Hampshire, England). The population in the British Isles is represented by this subspecies.


High Brown Fritillary male - Arnside Knott, Cumbria 12-July-2012
Male
Photo © Sussex Kipper
High Brown Fritillary, Dartmoor, 19 June 2009
Male Underside
Photo © Sussex Kipper
High Brown Fritillary female - Arnside Knott 30.07.2012
Female
Photo © nfreem
High Brown Fritillary - imago - Thatcham - 20-Jul-12 (1) [REARED]
Female Underside
Photo © Pete Eeles

Phenology  

Adults emerge in the second half of June on southern sites, peaking in early July, but may not appear until early July further north, peaking a little later in mid-July. There is a single generation each year.

Subspecies: Argynnis adippe vulgoadippe


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.


Habitat  

This butterfly can be found in suitably-managed woodland, although they soon disappear should the site become too overgrown, with no suitably-warm undergrowth remaining for egg-laying and larval development. The butterfly is also found on rough grassland, including grassland found on the edges of woods where there is sufficient light to promote growth of the violets. This species can also be found on limestone pavement, such as the colonies around Morecambe Bay, where violets grow between the cracks.

Larval Foodplants  

The primary larval foodplants are Common Dog-violet (Viola riviniana) and Hairy Violet (Viola hirta). Heath Dog-violet (Viola canina) and Pale Dog-violet (Viola lactea) are also used.

Nectar Sources  

Adults feed primarily on Thistles (Cirsium spp. and Carduus spp.). Betony (Stachys officinalis), Bramble (Rubus fruticosus), Knapweeds (Centaurea spp.) and Thyme (Thymus polytrichus) are also used.

Imago  

Both sexes fly powerfully and can be difficult to observe unless nectaring on Bramble or Thistle, or when resting low down on vegetation. Males will patrol wide areas of habitat when looking for a mate, and will investigate any brown object that might be a virgin female. Pairing typically takes place in late morning. Both sexes roost high in trees at night and in dull weather.

Females are often most-easily seen when egg-laying, when they flutter low over the ground in search of the larval foodplant. Sunny and sheltered sites are preferred and the female can be seen crawling in the dappled sunlight beneath vegetation close to the larval foodplant, before laying a single egg on a dead leaf, dead bracken frond or twig. Several eggs may be laid in the same area.

Subspecies: Argynnis adippe vulgoadippe


Argynnis adippe, Newbridge, Devon 26-June-08
Photo © m_galathea
High Brown Fritillary - imago - Arnside Knott - 12-Jul-05 (2)
Photo © Pete Eeles
13-Jul-2005
High Brown Fritillary - imago - Thatcham - 03-Jul-04 [REARED]
Photo © Pete Eeles
High Brown Fritillary - imago - Thatcham - 04-Jul-06 (0452) [REARED]
Photo © Pete Eeles
06-Jul-2006
High Brown Fritillary - imago - Thatcham - 20-Jun-04 (01) [REARED]
Photo © Pete Eeles
20-Jun-2004
High Brown Fritillary Female - Arnside Knott, Cumbria 9-July-09
Photo © Vince Massimo
09-Jul-2009
High Brown Fritillary Male - Arnside Knott, Cumbria 9-July-09
Photo © Vince Massimo
09-Jul-2009
High Brown Fritillary - imago - Dunsford Wood, Dartmoor - 12-Jul-06 [Mark Pike]
Photo © Mark Pike
High Brown Fritillary - imago - Heddon Valley - 06-Jul-04 (2) [Graham Smith]
Photo © Graham Smith
High Brown Fritillary, Dartmoor, 18 June 2009
Photo © Sussex Kipper
18-Jun-2009
High Brown Fritillary, Dartmoor, 19 June 2009
Photo © Sussex Kipper
19-Jun-2009
High Brown Fritillary - Arnside Knott - 30.06.2010
Photo © PhiliB
30-Jun-2010
High Brown Fritillary (f) - Arnside Knott, Cumbria 27th July 2009
Photo © millerd
27-Jul-2009
High Brown Fritillary - Female Upperwings - Arnside Knott, Cumbria - 27th July 2012
Photo © Graham Beckwith
27-Jul-2012
High Brown Fritillary - Female Underwings - Arnside Knott, Cumbria - 27th July 2012
Photo © Graham Beckwith
27-Jul-2012
High Brown Fritillary female - Arnside Knott 30.07.2012
Photo © nfreem
30-Jul-2012
High Brown Fritillary - imago - Thatcham - 20-Jul-12 (1) [REARED]
Photo © Pete Eeles
High Brown Fritillary - imago - Thatcham - 20-Jul-12 (2) [REARED]
Photo © Pete Eeles
High Brown Fritillary male - Arnside Knott, Cumbria 12-July-2012
Photo © Sussex Kipper
12-Jul-2012
High Brown Fritillary male - Arnside Knott, Cumbria 12-July-2012
Photo © Sussex Kipper
11-Jul-2012

Aberrations  

Description to be completed. Click here to see a full list of aberrations for this species.

Unclassified Aberrations


High Brown Fritillary ab. fasciata - Heddon Valley - 20/06/12
Photo © Rosalyn
20-Jun-2012
High Brown Fritillary ab. fasciata - Heddon Valley - 20.06.12
Photo © PhiliB
20-Jun-2012

Ovum  

Eggs are pink when first laid, but turn grey as the larva develops inside. The fully-formed larva remains in the egg through the winter.


High Brown Fritillary - ovum - Thatcham - 17-Mar-07 (1004) [REARED]
Photo © Pete Eeles
17-Mar-2007
High Brown Fritillary - ovum - Thatcham - 28-Jan-07 (0998) [REARED]
Photo © Pete Eeles
28-Jan-2007

Larva  

On hatching the larva goes in search of its foodplant, initially feeding on the tenderest leaves, where it leaves characteristic notches in the leaf lobes. Larvae feed during the day and more mature larvae can be found basking in the sun, raising their body temperature to aid digestion. There are 5 moults in total and this stage lasts around 9 weeks.


High Brown Fritillary - larva - Thatcham - 10-May-04 (2) [REARED]
Photo © Pete Eeles
10-May-2004
High Brown Fritillary - larva - Thatcham - 20-May-04 (3) [REARED]
Photo © Pete Eeles
19-May-2004
High Brown Fritillary - larva - Thatcham - 26-May-04 [REARED]
Photo © Pete Eeles
28-May-2004
High Brown Fritillary - larva - Thatcham - 28-May-06 (0144) [REARED]
Photo © Pete Eeles
28-May-2006
High Brown Fritillary - larva - Thatcham - 30-Apr-04 [REARED]
Photo © Pete Eeles
High Brown Fritillary - larva - Thatcham - 31-May-04 (3) [REARED]
Photo © Pete Eeles
31-May-2004
High Brown Fritillary - larva - Thatcham - 31-May-04 [REARED]
Photo © Pete Eeles
31-May-2004
High Brown Fritillary - larva - Thatcham - 06-Jun-12 (1) [REARED]
Photo © Pete Eeles
High Brown Fritillary - larva - Thatcham - 06-Jun-12 (2) [REARED]
Photo © Pete Eeles
High Brown Fritillary - larva - Thatcham - 31-May-12 (1) [REARED]
Photo © Pete Eeles

Pupa  

The larva forms a loose tent-like structure by spinning a few leaves together, in which it pupates. The dark brown pupa is formed head down within this structure, attached by the cremaster, resembling a shrivelled leaf. This stage lasts around 3 weeks.


High Brown Fritillary - pupa - Thatcham - 05-Jun-04 (3) [REARED]
Photo © Pete Eeles
12-Jun-2004
High Brown Fritillary - pupa - Thatcham - 09-Jun-06 (0236) [REARED]
Photo © Pete Eeles
09-Jun-2006
High Brown Fritillary - pupa - Thatcham - 09-Jun-12 (1) [REARED]
Photo © Pete Eeles
High Brown Fritillary - pupa - Thatcham - 09-Jun-12 (2) [REARED]
Photo © Pete Eeles

Similar Species  

Dark Green Fritillary

The 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 Fritillary

Description to be completed.

Silver-washed Fritillary

Description to be completed.

Videos  

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Sites  

Click here to see the distribution of this species overlaid with specific site information. Alternatively, select one of the sites listed below.

Sites
Aish Tor, Arnside Knott, Barkbooth Lot, Bircher Common, Blackadon, Cabilla Woods, Dart Valley, Dunsford, Dunsford Meadow, Gait Barrows, Heddon Valley, Hembury Woods, Hutton Roof Crags, Latterbarrow, Leighton Moss, Malvern Hills, Marsland Reserve, New Bridge, Old Castle Down, Room Hill, Warton Crag, Watersmeet, West Down, Whitbarrow Scar

Conservation Status  

Although there has been some recovery at sites which are specifically managed for this butterfly, the High Brown Fritillary is one of our most threatened butterflies whose numbers have plummeted since the 1970s, being extinct over 94% of its former range. Factors causing this decline include a reduction in coppicing practices, agricultural improvement, and lack of grazing and traditional forms of bracken management. This butterfly is therefore a priority species for conservation efforts.

UK BAP StatusDistribution TrendPopulation Trend
Priority Species
Click here to access the Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) for this species.		DecreaseLarge Decrease

From The State of Butterflies in Britain and Ireland and the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP) (2007 review).


Links  

The following links provide additional information on this butterfly.

References  

The species description provided here has been derived from the author's own observations and the information contained in the following works:

  • Asher (2001). Asher, J., Warren, M., Fox, R., Harding, P., Jeffcoate, G. and Jeffcoate, S.: The Millennium Atlas of Butterflies in Britain and Ireland. 2001.
  • Fox (2006). Fox, R., Asher, J., Brereton, T., Roy, D. and Warren, M.: The State of Butterflies in Britain and Ireland. 2006.
  • Frohawk (1914). Frohawk, F.W.: A Natural History of British Butterflies. 1914.
  • Howarth (1973). Howarth, T.G.: South's British Butterflies. 1973.
  • Nash (2012). Nash, D., Boyd, T. and Hardiman, D.: Ireland's Butterflies: A Review. 2012.
  • Riley (2007). Riley, A.M.: British and Irish Butterflies: The Complete Identification, Field and Site Guide to the Species, Subspecies and Forms. 2007.
  • South (1906). South, R.: The Butterflies Of The British Isles. 1906.
  • Thomas & Lewington (2010). Thomas, J. and Lewington, R.: The Butterflies of Britain and Ireland. Edn.2. 2010.

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