# Silver-washed Fritillary (*Argynnis paphia*) The Silver-washed Fritillary is a beautiful butterfly with orange wings and black spots. They love to flutter around flowers and are often seen in sunny places during the summer. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests - **Also known as:** Silver-washed Fritillary Butterfly ![Silver-washed Fritillary](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Argynnis_paphia_male_Grinda.jpg&width=800) Photo: Korall, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Argynnis_paphia_male_Grinda.jpg) ## Appearance The Silver-washed Fritillary has vibrant orange-brown wings adorned with distinct black spots and markings. Its most unique feature is the beautiful silvery-green sheen found on the underside of its hindwings, which makes it easily distinguishable. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Lepidoptera - **Family:** Nymphalidae - **Genus:** Argynnis ## Interesting facts - Its caterpillar looks like a furry, black, spiky creature, totally unlike the adult butterfly! - Males perform an aerial 'love dance' in flight, chasing females through woodland clearings! Wow! - Some female Silver-washed Fritillaries have a special dark 'valezina' form, making them unique! - These butterflies taste flowers with their feet to decide which ones have the best nectar! ## Special abilities - **Silvery Underwing Camouflage:** The Silver-washed Fritillary has a silvery-green underside that helps them blend into leaves when resting. - **Nectar-Sipping Proboscis:** Silver-washed Fritillaries can unfurl a long, straw-like proboscis to sip sweet nectar from deep inside flowers. - **Scenty Courtship Dance:** Male fritillaries use special wing scales to release pheromones, helping them find and attract females for mating. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 55-70 mm - **Size:** 25-35 mm - **Lifespan:** 15-30 days - **Flight Speed:** 15 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Adult Silver-washed Fritillaries sip flower nectar; their caterpillars munch on violet leaves. - **Age differences:** Larvae eat violet leaves, while adults drink nectar from a variety of flowers. - **Primary Foods:** nectar (bramble), nectar (thistle), nectar (knapweed), violet leaves (larvae) - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Depends on:** [Sweet Violet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sweet-violet) (*Viola odorata*) — Caterpillars feed on its leaves. - **Pollinates:** Bramble (*Rubus fruticosus*) — Adults visit for nectar. - **Eaten by:** [Great Tit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-tit) (*Parus major*) — Birds may prey on adults. ## Traits - [Spotted](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spotted): Marked with spots or patches of a different color. - [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. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. - [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 gentle and safe to watch, but don't touch them as they can be delicate. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Silver-washed 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 Silver-washed Fritillary's wingspan? 55-70 mm ### How big is Silver-washed Fritillary? 25-35 mm ### How long does Silver-washed Fritillary live? 15-30 days ### How fast can Silver-washed Fritillary fly? 15 km/h ### What does Silver-washed Fritillary eat? Adult Silver-washed Fritillaries sip flower nectar; their caterpillars munch on violet leaves. ### Where is Silver-washed Fritillary usually found? Forests ### How does Silver-washed Fritillary hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Naturpark Zittauer Gebirge](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/zittau-mountains-nature-park) — Sachsen, DE · Park - [Schlosspark Belvedere mit Orangerie (Weimar)](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/belvedere-palace-park-orangery-weimar) — Thüringen, DE · Park ## 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: [Silver-washed Fritillary: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/silver-washed-fritillary)