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Over-the-counter deer firearm permit sales begin on Tuesday, Oct. 20. Due to recent software updates beyond IDNR’s control, some vendors may have limited availability to print permits and licenses. IDNR is working closely with the license system provider to quickly address the issue for those vendors. To locate unaffected vendors, use the agent locator at https://www.exploremoreil.com/agentlocator.

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regal fritillary

regal fritillary (Speyeria idalia)
Illinois Status: state threatened, native

Features and Behaviors

FEATURES
The wingspan of this species is from two and three-fourths to four and one-fourth inches. The upperside of the forewing is red-orange with black markings, and the upperside of the female’s forewing has white spots along the black edge. The upper surface of the hindwing is a darker color than that of the forewing and has two rows of spots. These spots are all an ivory shade in the female. In the male, the inner row of spots is ivory while the spots in the outer row are orange. The underside of the forewings is orange with dark markings and also has a row of white spots in the black border along the edge of the wing. The hindwing is covered with many white bars and spots.

BEHAVIORS
The regal fritillary is a threatened species in Illinois. It lives in sand prairies, tallgrass prairies, savannas, dunes and other wet areas associated with sand. The larvae eats violet leaves (Viola spp.). Adults obtain nectar from a variety of flowers. They are active from May through September. One generation is produced per year. The species overwinters in the larval stage.

Illinois Range

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae

Habitats

Aquatic
wet prairies and fens

Prairie and Edge
black soil prairie; dolomite prairie; edge; gravel prairie; hill prairie; sand prairie; shrub prairie