# 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. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Marsh Fritillary](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Euphydryas_aurinia.jpg&width=800) Photo: Júlio Reis, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Euphydryas_aurinia.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Lepidoptera - **Family:** Nymphalidae - **Genus:** Euphydryas ## 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 - **Silk Fortress Builders:** Marsh Fritillary caterpillars can weave silk webs to create communal nests that protect them from predators and weather. - **Toxic Taste Shield:** Marsh Fritillary larvae have special chemicals in their bodies that make them taste bad to hungry birds and other predators. - **Sun-Powered Flight:** 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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/devils-bit-scabious) (*Succisa pratensis*) — Primary food source for caterpillars. - **Eaten by:** [Ribwort Plantain](https://www.snappit.app/explore/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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/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. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look at butterflies from a distance and don't try to catch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Marsh Fritillary? Compare the wing outline, spots, bands, eyespots and wing edges. The underside can look completely different from the top. Check for tails, the antennae and where the markings sit instead of relying on color alone. Butterfly Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Marsh Fritillary's wingspan? 30-50 mm ### How big is Marsh Fritillary? 15-20 mm ### How long does Marsh Fritillary live? 7-14 days ### What does Marsh Fritillary eat? Adults sip sweet nectar from flowers, while caterpillars munch on special plant leaves. ### Where is Marsh Fritillary usually found? Wetlands ### How does Marsh Fritillary hunt? Foraging ### How many legs does Marsh Fritillary have? 6 ## Where to spot - [Biosphärenreservat Bliesgau](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/biospharenreservat-bliesgau) — Saarland, DE · Park - [Naturpark Schlei](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/naturpark-schlei) — Schleswig-Holstein, DE · Park - [Armorique Regional Nature Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/armorique-regional-nature-park) — Bretagne, FR · Park - [Saône Marsh](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/saone-marsh) — Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, FR · Park [View all places to see Marsh Fritillary](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/marsh-fritillary) ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Marsh Fritillary: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/marsh-fritillary)