# Meadow Fritillary (*Boloria bellona*) The Meadow Fritillary is a beautiful butterfly with orange and black patterns on its wings. It loves to flutter around meadows and fields, bringing color to nature. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 13 - **Habitat:** Meadows and grasslands ![Meadow Fritillary](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Meadow_Fritillary_-_Boloria_bellona%252C_Jones_Preserve%252C_Washington%252C_Virginia_%2833711461002%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Judy Gallagher, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Meadow_Fritillary_-_Boloria_bellona%252C_Jones_Preserve%252C_Washington%252C_Virginia_%2833711461002%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Meadow Fritillary has vibrant orange upperwings with intricate dark markings. Its underside hindwings are distinctively patterned with greenish-yellow, brown, and pearly-white spots, making it easy to identify from similar butterflies. These pearly spots often look like drops of dew. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Lepidoptera - **Family:** Nymphalidae - **Genus:** Clossiana ## Interesting facts - It sips nectar using a long, straw-like tongue called a proboscis! - Meadow Fritillary caterpillars only eat violet leaves, making them very picky eaters! - Some Meadow Fritillaries can have two generations of butterflies in one summer! - Their wings have tiny scales that give them their beautiful colors, like dust! ## Special abilities - **Camouflage Cloak:** Meadow Fritillary has intricate wing patterns that help them blend seamlessly into flowery meadows, hiding from hungry birds. - **Nectar Detector:** Meadow Fritillary can taste with its feet, helping them find the sweetest flowers for delicious nectar because of special sensors. - **Violet Nursery:** Meadow Fritillary can identify specific violet plants to lay eggs on, ensuring their caterpillars have the perfect food source. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 35-50 mm - **Size:** 15-20 mm - **Lifespan:** 14-28 days - **Flight Speed:** 10-20 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Adults sip sweet nectar from flowers, while their young caterpillars munch on violet leaves! - **Age differences:** Larvae eat specific violet plant leaves, while adults solely drink nectar from various wildflowers. - **Primary Foods:** violet leaves (larvae), thistle nectar, milkweed nectar, dandelion nectar - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Depends on:** [Common Blue Violet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-blue-violet) (*Viola sororia*) — Its leaves are the only food source for Meadow Fritillary caterpillars. - **Eaten by:** [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) — This common bird preys on Meadow Fritillary adults and larvae. - **Pollinates:** [Creeping Thistle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/creeping-thistle) (*Cirsium arvense*) — Adult Meadow Fritillaries visit these flowers for nectar, helping spread pollen. - **Eaten by:** [Garden Spider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/garden-spider) (*Argiope aurantia*) — Meadow Fritillaries can get caught in their webs and become food. ## Traits - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [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. - [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. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Butterflies are safe to watch but be gentle and don't touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Meadow 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 Meadow Fritillary's wingspan? 35-50 mm ### How big is Meadow Fritillary? 15-20 mm ### How long does Meadow Fritillary live? 14-28 days ### How fast can Meadow Fritillary fly? 10-20 km/h ### What does Meadow Fritillary eat? Adults sip sweet nectar from flowers, while their young caterpillars munch on violet leaves! ### Where is Meadow Fritillary usually found? Meadows and grasslands ### How does Meadow Fritillary hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Virginville](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/virginville) — Pennsylvania, US · Neighborhood - [Canoe Landing Prairie State Natural Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/canoe-landing-prairie-state-natural-area) — Wisconsin, US · State Park - [Cherry Springs State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cherry-springs-state-park) — Pennsylvania, US · State Park - [Crystal Cave](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/crystal-cave) — Pennsylvania, US · Natural Landmark - [Denbigh Experimental Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/denbigh-experimental-forest) — North Dakota, US · Botanical Garden - [Greenup Commercial Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/greenup-commercial-historic-district) — Illinois, US · Historic District [View all places to see Meadow Fritillary](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/meadow-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: [Meadow Fritillary: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/meadow-fritillary)