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meadow fritillary
meadow fritillary (Boloria bellona)
Illinois Status: common, native
Features and Behaviors
FEATURES
The meadow fritillary is an orange moth with varied black, zigzagged lines, and semicircular and/or boxy spots. The area around the thorax and abdomen appears quite dusky, and they have large eyes with black and white striped antennae. The tips of front wings are slightly truncated, appearing as if the corners have been clipped. They are much smaller than greater fritillaries (Speyeria spp.) with an average wingspan of 1.6 inches. Meadow Fritillaries are easily confused for checkerspots and crescents. The caterpillar is mottled gray to dark brown, with yellow to brown spines along the dorsal side that are cream colored or black at the base.
BEHAVIORS
You can find meadow fritillaries statewide, being more numerous in the northern half of the state in grassy fields, meadows, and ditches, from March to August. There are three generations (broods) of meadow fritillaries each summer. Females lay eggs on twigs near or on the foliage of violets. Caterpillars feed on the leaves and stems of violets, and winged adults sip the nectar. The conversion of open meadows to conventional agriculture has reduced the amount of suitable habitat for this species in Illinois.
Illinois Range
Taxonomy
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Habitats
grassy fields, meadows, and ditches
