The Atlantis Fritillary is found generally in the northern tier of the United States and in southern Canada. The host plants for this species are members of the Viola genus, but it prefers the Canada violet (Viola canadensis) in particular. It is found flying from June to September depending on location.
Table of Contents for the Atlantis Fritillary (Speyeria atlantis)
Taxonomy and Naming of the Atlantis Fritillary (Speyeria atlantis)
Atlantis Fritillary
The Atlantis Fritillary was named and described by William Henry Edwards, an American entomologist in 1862. This butterfly is a member of the family Nymphalidae and the subfamily Heliconiinae.
Meaning of the Scientific and Common Names
Scientific Name
The genus name, Speyeria, comes from a Latinized version of A. Speyer, a German entomologist (Merriam-Webster Dictionary). The species name, atlantis, may perhaps come from a mythical island in the Atlantic Ocean.
Common Name and Alternative Names
The common name likely derives from the species name. This butterfly has also been called the Mountain Silverspot, Mountain Fritillary, and Mountain Silver-spotted Butterfly (Dunford 2007).
Physical Description
- Color: ThisAtlantis Fritillary is orange-brown with a black dot on the inner wing. The forewings also have black margins, which is a distinguishing characteristic and a purplish brown color on the underside (Bouseman and Sternburg 2001), however, the color can range from chocolate brown to dark red brown (Scott 1988). Black scaling is present on the wing veins.
- Wingspan: 2 to 3 inches
- Active Flying Time: These butterflies fly from mid-June to September, which is a shorter time than the other fritillaries, Aphrodite and Great Spangled, it can be confused with. The most common time is July (Butterflies of Massachusetts).
Lifecycle of this Butterfly
Life Stages
- Eggs: The eggs are a honey yellow color and are laid at the base of a violet (Viola spp.); generally Canada violet (Viola canadensis) or sand violet (Viola adunca).
- Larva (Caterpillar): The caterpillars are tan in color and overwinter under leaf litter. They emerge with the violets in the spring and eat the leaves.
- Chrysalis: The chrysalis is dark brown and is attached to rocks or branches in the late spring to early summer. There is only one brood per year.
- Adults: The adult butterflies use scent pheromones to attract mates in the summer. The eggs are then deposited in the late summer.
Habitat
This butterfly lives in open areas such as meadows, fields, forest openings, prairies, streamsides, and roadsides. It is often found near water in any habitat (Dunford 2007).
Range of Atlantis Fritillary (Speyeria atlantis) in the United States and Canada
This butterfly flies generally in the northern half of the United States and the south and middle of Canada. It has a scattered distribution in the mid-western United States. This butterfly has been reported to range as far south as Arizona (Pyle 1981), but a lot of other sources did not report this.
Host Plants
The larvae, or caterpillars, of the Atlantis Fritillary feed on members of the violets (Viola spp.). It has a preference for Canada violet (Viola canadensis), but has also been noted to utilize sand violet (V. adunca) and northern bog violet (V. nephrophylla) (Butterflies of Massachusetts) and northern woodland violet (V. septentrionalis) (Dunford 2007). The Butterflies of Massachusetts website also notes that fritillaries have been negatively impacted by the reduction in violets due to agriculture and climate change.
Nectar Plants
This butterfly nectars on a variety of plants, animal feces, and wet soil. Some of the plants include common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), mints (Lamiacaeae), especially bergamot (Monarda spp.) (Ferris 1983), mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia), crown vetch (Coronilla spp.), and spiraea (Spiraea spp.) (Wikipedia).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there any difference in the sexes of this butterfly?
Yes. The females have more prominent markings (Bouseman and Sternburg 2001).
What are the regional differences of this butterfly?
There are number of regional morphs of this butterfly, which has led to division of the species into subspecies (Ferris 1983). The differences arise from the color intensity of the silver color, “Silvering”, of the butterfly (Scott 1988). The silvering is from the light reflection off the scales.
Where can I get more information about this Butterfly?
References
- Bouseman, John K. and James G. Sternburg. 2001. Field Guide to the Butterflies of Illinois. (Champaign, IL: Illinois Natural History Survey. Manual 10.
- Dunford, James Christopher. 2007. The Genus Speyeria and the Speyeria atlantis/Speyeria hesperis Complex: Species and Subspecies Accounts, Systematics, and Biogeography (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae). Ph.D Dissertation. University of Florida.
- Ferris, Clifford D. 1983. Speyeria atlantis Phenotypes in the Southern Rocky Mountains (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Argynninae). The Journal on Research on the Lepidoptera 22(2): 101-114.
- Pyle, Robert Michael. 1981. National Audubon Society Field Guide to Butterflies. (New York: Chanticleer Press).
- Scott, James A. 1988. Speyeria atlantis in Colorado: Rearing Studies Concerning the Relation between Silvered and Unsilvered Forms. Journal of the Lepidopterists Society 42(1): 1-13.
