Nymphalids, Vanessids & Fritillaries
A diverse family of our largest, most striking and beautiful butterflies containing some well known migrants. Conical eggs, laid singly or in batches produce gregarious caterpillars often sporting long, protective spines. Chrysalises are suspended from the tail end by silken pads and are often attractively adorned with silvery, metallic spines and spots.
Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia)
Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia)

Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia)
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Heliconiinae
Tribe: Argynnini
Genus: Argynnis
Subgenus: Argynnis
Species: Paphia
Subspecies: paphia
Form: paphia, valesina

Key ID Features:
Largest of the UK fritillaries.
The male's upperparts are a rich orange, strongly spotted with 4 dark veins (sex brands) on the forewings.
The larger female is more ochreous in colour tinged olive green at the bases of the wings.
The underside of the hindwings are bronze-green with a silvery white sheen after which it is named.

Seen in UK: June-September

This butterfly is our largest fritillary and gets its name from the beautiful streaks of silver found on the underside of the wings. The bright orange male is quite distinctive as it flies powerfully along woodland rides, pausing only briefly to feed or investigate anything with an orange hue that could be a potential mate. The male has four distinctive black veins on its forewings that contain special “androconial” scales that are used in courtship. These veins are known as “sex brands”. The female is paler than the male, has rounder wings and more-prominent spots.

Text (c) UK Butterflies, used with permission
For more information click here

Photographer: Tim Tapley

Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia)

Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia)
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Heliconiinae
Tribe: Argynnini
Genus: Argynnis
Subgenus: Argynnis
Species: Paphia
Subspecies: paphia
Form: paphia, valesina

Key ID Features:
Largest of the UK fritillaries.
The male's upperparts are a rich orange, strongly spotted with 4 dark veins (sex brands) on the forewings.
The larger female is more ochreous in colour tinged olive green at the bases of the wings.
The underside of the hindwings are bronze-green with a silvery white sheen after which it is named.

Seen in UK: June-September

This butterfly is our largest fritillary and gets its name from the beautiful streaks of silver found on the underside of the wings. The bright orange male is quite distinctive as it flies powerfully along woodland rides, pausing only briefly to feed or investigate anything with an orange hue that could be a potential mate. The male has four distinctive black veins on its forewings that contain special “androconial” scales that are used in courtship. These veins are known as “sex brands”. The female is paler than the male, has rounder wings and more-prominent spots.

Text (c) UK Butterflies, used with permission
For more information click here

Photographer: Tim Tapley