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great spangled fritillary
great spangled fritillary (Speyeria cybele)
Illinois Status: common, native
Features and Behaviors
FEATURES
The wingspan of this species is about three to four inches. The outer half of the upperside of the wings has a series of light and dark spots and other marks. The inner half of the upperside of the wings is dark. The underside of the hindwing has a light tan band between two rows of spots.
BEHAVIORS
The great spangled fritillary is a butterfly of open areas. The adult feeds on flower nectar. The larva eats only violets. The female places an egg on or near violet plants in late summer. It hatches to the larval form and becomes dormant in leaf litter. In spring it will return to its active state and find violet leaves to eat. The adult is active from mid-April through October. There is one generation per year.
Illinois Range
Taxonomy
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Habitats
Aquatic Habitats
wet prairies and fens
Prairie and Edge Habitats
black soil prairie; dolomite prairie; edge; gravel prairie; hill prairie; sand prairie; shrub prairie
