Diana Fritillary

argynnis diana

The Diana Fritillary (Argynnis diana) is one of the most breathtaking and chemically intriguing butterflies of North America. Found primarily in the moist, deciduous forests of the Southern Appalachians and the Ozarks, this large butterfly exhibits one of the most dramatic cases of sexual dimorphism in the insect world. While the males sport vibrant orange and deep brown wings, the larger females display a stunning pattern of velvety black and iridescent blue, evolved to mimic the toxic Pipevine Swallowtail. This contrast is so pronounced that early naturalists initially classified them as entirely different species.

生息地: Found in moist, rich deciduous hardwood forests, stream valleys, and pine-oak woodlands, particularly where undisturbed understories support wild violet growth.

外見

Adults of this large butterfly species have a wingspan ranging from 9 to 11 cm. Males are easily identified by their warm, dark brown inner wings bordered by a broad, brilliant band of burnt orange. Females, by contrast, are slightly larger and feature dark charcoal to black forewings with pale blue spots, while their hindwings showcase a spectacular splash of metallic, shimmering sky blue. The undersides of the wings are equally distinct, with the male's showing orange-brown hues and the female's displaying a dark slate-gray and blue pattern.

界Animalia門Arthropoda綱Insecta目Lepidoptera科Nymphalidae属Argynnis

Diana Fritillary

カテゴリ

昆虫

レア度

Common

危険度

1/5 · 非常に低い

スナップ

最初にスナップしよう！

おもしろい事実

Female Diana Fritillaries emerge up to a month later than males, which ensures males are mature and ready when the females finally emerge.

The sexual dimorphism in Diana Fritillaries is so extreme that early entomologists classified males and females as two completely different species for decades.

Unlike most butterflies that lay eggs directly on host plant leaves, Diana Fritillary females lay eggs on the forest floor litter near violets, relying on the caterpillars to find their food in spring.

特殊能力

Female Diana Fritillaries mimic the coloration of the toxic Pipevine Swallowtail, deterring avian predators who associate blue-and-black patterns with severe nausea.

Hatching in late summer, the tiny caterpillars immediately enter a state of suspended animation without feeding, surviving the harsh winter until spring violets emerge.

Males gather at damp soil, mud, and animal carcasses to extract vital sodium and amino acids, which they later transfer to females during mating to boost egg viability.

サイズと詳細

長さ: 4+ cm
翼開長: 9+ cm
体重: 0.0003+ kg
寿命: 1+ 年
Top Speed: 20 km/h
一度の産卵数: 500+
抱卵期間: 10+ 日

食性と食事

Caterpillars feed exclusively on the leaves of wild violets, while adult butterflies consume nectar from a variety of woodland and meadow wildflowers.

主な食物

Violet leaves
Milkweed nectar
Ironweed nectar
Butterfly weed nectar
Damp mud mineral deposits

採餌方法

Foraging

生態系とのつながり

host plant

Bird's-foot Violet

Viola pedata

The primary larval host plant where females lay eggs and caterpillars feed on the foliage.

mutualism

Pipevine Swallowtail

Battus philenor

The toxic model which the female Diana Fritillary mimics to avoid bird predation.

eaten by

Common Green Darner

Anax junius

A major insect predator that captures adult butterflies in flight.

特徴

このオブジェクトにはまだ特徴バッジが割り当てられていません。

別名

まだ別名はありません。

コレクション

テーマが追加されると、このオブジェクトのコレクションがここに表示されます。

安全性

危険度

1/5 · 非常に低い

まだ特別な安全上の注意はありません。

よくある質問

Diana Fritillaryを見分けるには？

Diana Fritillaryを識別する最も簡単な方法は、Snappit自然識別アプリを使用することです。

Diana Fritillaryの長さは何ですか？

4+ cm

Diana Fritillaryの翼開長は何ですか？

9+ cm

Diana Fritillaryの体重は何ですか？

0.0003+ kg

Diana Fritillaryの寿命は何ですか？

1+ 年

Diana Fritillaryのtop Speedは何ですか？

20 km/h

Diana Fritillaryは何を食べますか？

Caterpillars feed exclusively on the leaves of wild violets, while adult butterflies consume nectar from a variety of woodland and meadow wildflowers.

Diana Fritillaryは通常どこに生息していますか？

Found in moist, rich deciduous hardwood forests, stream valleys, and pine-oak woodlands, particularly where undisturbed understories support wild violet growth.