Description

The Great Spangled Fritillary (Argynnis cybele) is a vibrant butterfly with orange wings covered in black spots and markings, and silver spangles on the undersides of its hindwings, commonly found in meadows, gardens, and woodland edges across North America.

Range

It is found throughout the state.

Similar Species

Aphrodite Fritillary and Atlantis Fritillary are similar. Aphrodite has a reduced cream-colored band on the hindwing below and an extra dark mark on the forewing above. Atlantis has wider black margins above.

Host Plants

Larvae feed on violets including round-leaf violet (Viola rotundifolia), the arrow-leaf violet (Viola fimbriatula) and the common blue violet (Viola sororia).

Flight

Overwinters as a chrysalis, and can emerge as early as May and can fly until September (depending on the weather)