# Spotted Fritillary (*Melitaea didyma*) The Spotted Fritillary is a beautiful butterfly with orange and black spots. It flutters around flowers and loves sunny places, making it a joyful sight in nature. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 2 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Spotted Fritillary](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Melitaea_didyma_MHNT_CUT_2013_3_26_male_Cahors.jpg&width=800) Photo: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Melitaea_didyma_MHNT_CUT_2013_3_26_male_Cahors.jpg) ## Appearance The Spotted Fritillary has vibrant orange-brown wings adorned with numerous black spots and a distinct network of dark lines. Its hindwings often feature a paler, yellowish underside with a checkerboard pattern. This butterfly is visually differentiated by its striking pattern of black markings against a warm orange base, making it stand out from plainer brown butterflies. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Lepidoptera - **Family:** Nymphalidae - **Genus:** Melitaea ## Interesting facts - Adults can taste sweet nectar with special sensors located on their tiny feet! - Their caterpillars wear spiky coats, making them less tasty for hungry birds! - They unfold a long, straw-like tongue called a proboscis to drink flower nectar! - This butterfly is super important for pollinating many different types of wildflowers! ## Special abilities - **Sun Seeker:** Spotted Fritillary has dark markings that help them absorb sunlight to warm up their bodies, allowing for faster flight. - **Pattern Disguise:** Spotted Fritillary can use its intricate wing patterns to blend into sun-dappled foliage, helping them hide from sharp-eyed predators. - **Host Plant Navigator:** Spotted Fritillary can locate specific host plants like plantains by smell, ensuring their caterpillars have the right food to grow. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 30-50 mm - **Size:** 15-25 mm - **Lifespan:** 10-25 days - **Flight Speed:** 10-20 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Caterpillars munch on leaves, while adult butterflies enjoy sipping sweet flower nectar. - **Age differences:** Larvae feed on specific host plant leaves, while adults exclusively drink nectar from flowers. - **Primary Foods:** Plantago lanceolata, Centaurea scabiosa, Cirsium vulgare, Thymus serpyllum - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Depends on:** [Ribwort Plantain](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ribwort-plantain) (*Plantago lanceolata*) — Caterpillars feed on its leaves. - **Pollinates:** [Greater Knapweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/greater-knapweed) (*Centaurea scabiosa*) — Adults drink its nectar, aiding pollination. - **Eaten by:** [Great Tit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-tit) (*Parus major*) — Birds are common predators of butterflies. - **Parasitizes:** Fritillary Braconid Wasp (*Cotesia melitaearum*) — Larvae can be parasitized by this tiny wasp. ## Traits - [Spotted](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spotted): Marked with spots or patches of a different color. - [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. - [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 Be gentle and watch butterflies from a distance so they feel safe. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Spotted 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 Spotted Fritillary's wingspan? 30-50 mm ### How big is Spotted Fritillary? 15-25 mm ### How long does Spotted Fritillary live? 10-25 days ### How fast can Spotted Fritillary fly? 10-20 km/h ### What does Spotted Fritillary eat? Caterpillars munch on leaves, while adult butterflies enjoy sipping sweet flower nectar. ### Where is Spotted Fritillary usually found? Grasslands ### How does Spotted Fritillary hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/craters-of-the-moon-national-monument-and-preserve) — Idaho, US · National Park - [Mammoth Hot Springs Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mammoth-hot-springs-historic-district) — Wyoming, US · Historic District ## 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: [Spotted Fritillary: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-fritillary)