Regal Fritillary

The regal fritillary has a wingspan of 2.5 to 4 inches (6.4 to 10.2 cm)

Upper side:

• Forewings are deep orange with black spots
• Hindwings are velvety black with two rows of white spots in males, and white and orange spots in females

Underside:

• Forewings are orange and spotted
• Hindwings are brownish-black with distinctive silvery white spots - a key field mark

Regal fritillary butterflies live in tall-grass prairie and other open and sunny locations such as damp meadows, marshes, wet fields and mountain pastures. These early successional stage habitats were maintained through periodic, natural disturbance regimes. Regal fritillaries depend on three main habitat components: violet host plants for caterpillars, nectar plants for adults and native warm-season bunch grasses that provide protective sites for all life stages. Adults are encountered in both upland prairies and wet prairies, although larval development may be restricted to upland prairie where violet species grow. Wet prairies provide critical nectar sources under drought conditions. Adults are rarely encountered away from native prairies and they appear to have a strong tendency to remain within the boundaries of these habitats. A viable, self-sustaining population requires about 120 to 240 acres. However, adults are frequently observed in remnant habitats that may be too small to support a self-sustaining population, suggesting that dispersal among remnants is common and that the butterflies will use somewhat degraded prairie habitats. These butterflies are strong flyers and occasionally disperse over tens of kilometers. However, they tend to remain in the bounds of their natal prairie, especially if it is surrounded by trees, croplands, or roads.

Regal fritillary adults fly from late June through early September. They have one brood per year and caterpillars feed exclusively on violets. Viable populations require a large number of violet plants.