Marsh Fritillary

Euphydryas aurinia

The Marsh Fritillary is a beautiful butterfly with orange and black patterns on its wings. It loves to flutter around meadows and wetlands, bringing joy to everyone who sees it.

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The Marsh Fritillary is a medium-sized butterfly, adorned with a vibrant checkerboard pattern of orange, yellow, and black. Its wings feature distinct dark veins and a row of black spots within paler bands, setting it apart from other fritillaries.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderLepidopteraFamilyNymphalidaeGenusEuphydryas

Marsh Fritillary

Interesting facts

Marsh Fritillaries are picky eaters; their caterpillars only eat a few special plants!

Marsh Fritillary eggs are laid in huge batches, sometimes over 300 at once!

Their caterpillars build silk 'tents' to live in together, like tiny insect skyscrapers!

They spend almost a year as caterpillars, then transform into butterflies in just weeks!

Special abilities

Marsh Fritillary caterpillars can weave silk webs to create communal nests that protect them from predators and weather.

Marsh Fritillary larvae have special chemicals in their bodies that make them taste bad to hungry birds and other predators.

Marsh Fritillaries can absorb sunlight with their dark wings, giving them energy to fly and find food on cooler days.

Measurements & details

Wingspan: 30-50 mm
Size: 15-20 mm
Lifespan: 7-14 days
Leg Count: 6

Diet & Feeding

Adults sip sweet nectar from flowers, while caterpillars munch on special plant leaves.

Age differences: Caterpillars eat plant leaves; adults drink flower nectar.

Primary Foods

Nectar
Succisa pratensis (Devil's-bit Scabious) leaves
Plantago lanceolata (Ribwort Plantain) leaves

Foraging Method

Foraging

Ecological connections

eaten by

Devil's-bit Scabious

Succisa pratensis

Primary food source for caterpillars.

eaten by

Ribwort Plantain

Plantago lanceolata

An alternative food for caterpillars.

parasitizes

a Braconid wasp

Cotesia acuminata

A parasitic wasp that attacks caterpillars.

eaten by

Blue Tit

Cyanistes caeruleus

A common bird predator.

Traits

Social

Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.

Colorful

Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.

Herbivorous

This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.

Pollinator Magnet

Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.

Wetland

This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.