Table of Contents for Great Spangled Fritillary (Speyeria cybele)
Introduction to the Great Spangled Fritillary
The Great Spangled Fritillary is one of the most common and largest fritillaries and found across most of North America except for the deep south. It is a member of the family Nymphalidae and is in the subfamily Heliconiinae. This butterfly was first named by Johan Christian Fabricius, a Danish zoologist, in 1775. An orange/yellow-brown butterfly, it utilizes plants of the genus Viola (Violets), especially common blue violet (Viola sororia) and round-leaf violet (Viola rotundifolia) as a host.
Taxonomy and Naming of Great Spangled Fritillary
Taxonomy
This butterfly was first named and described by Johan Christian Fabricius, a Danish zoologist, in 1775. The type specimen was from New York City, NY. It is a member of the family Nymphalidae and is in the subfamily Heliconiinae.
Meaning of the Scientific and Common Names
Scientific Name
The genus name, Speyeria, comes from A. Speyer, a 19th century German lepidopterist (Merriam-Webster Dictionary). The species name, cybele, an Anotolian mother Goddess (Wikipedia), but it also means “mountain mother.” (USDA Forest Service).
Common Name
The common name comes from the silver spots on the underside of the wing (UW-Milwaukee).
Physical Description of Great Spangled Fritillary (Speyeria cybele)
Description
- Color: The main color of this butterfly is orange-brown, though the female tends to be a little more darker than the male. The underside of the hindwings have metallic silver spots and a tan submarginal band (Bouseman and Sternburg 2001). The females also have a black area on the bottom of the forewings and hindwings (animaldiversity.org). This is one of the most common fritillaries in the eastern United States (animaldiversity.org).
- Wingspan: 2.5 to 4.0 inches
- Active Flying Time: These butterflies fly from May to October.
Lifecycle of this Butterfly
Eggs
The eggs are yellow to light brown and are laid on or near the host plant in the late summer.
Larvae
The larvae, or caterpillars, have a black body with orange spines and overwinter under leaf litter. It emerges with the violets (Viola spp.) in the spring to eat the leaves. They molt six times, unlike other butterflies that molt five times (animaldiversity.org). The caterpillars eat at night and hide under leaves during the day.
Chrysalis
The chrysalis is dark brown and is attached to rocks or branches in the late spring to early summer. This butterfly only has one brood per year.
Adult
The adults use scent pheromones to attract mates in the summer. They then deposit eggs in the late summer.
Range of the Great Spangled Fritillary in the United States and Canada
This butterfly is essentially located through North America except for the far northern (Arctic) reaches and parts of the deep south. It is rarer in the west and some scientists consider the western population to be a separate species called S. leto (Pyle 1981).
Habitat
This fritillary lives in moist forested areas and somewhat open areas, generally in the same habitat as common blue violet (Viola sororia) and round-leaf violet (Viola rotundifolia). It can also be found in upland fields (Mass Audubon) and roadsides and pastures (butterfliesandmoths.org).
Host Plants
The larvae, or caterpillars, of the Great Spangled Fritillary feed on members of the Violets (Viola spp.). This species in particular has a preference for common blue violet (Viola sororia) and round-leaf violet (Viola rotundifolia) (Bousemann and Sternburg 2002).
Nectar Plants
This butterfly nectars on a variety of plants and also feces and wet soil. Some of the plants include butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa), pale coneflower (Echinacea pallida), Carolina thistle (Cirsium carolinianum), nodding plumeless-thistle (Carduus nutans), Oswego tea (Monarda fistulosa), and narrow-leaf mountain mint (Pycnanthemum tenuifolium) (Rudolph et al 2006). Other nectar plants include common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) and Joe-Pye weed (Eutrochium purpureum) (Wisconsinbutterflies.org).
Frequently Asked Questions about the Great Spangled Fritillary (Speyeria cybele)
What other butterflies are similar to this one?
The Aphrodite Fritillary (Speyeria aphrodite) and the Atlantis Fritillary (Speyeria atlantis) are similar in coloration, but each of these butterflies have a black spot on the upperside of the forewing (Bousemann and Sternburg 2001). Additionally the Atlantis Fritillary appears darker than the Great Spangled and the Aphrodite is generally lighter in color (wisconsinbutterflies.org).
Where can I get more information for this butterfly?
References
- Bouseman, John K. and James G. Sternburg. 2001. Field Guide to the Butterflies of Illinois. Champaign: Illinois Natural History Survey. Manual 10.
- Pyle, Robert Michael. 1981. National Audubon Society Field Guide to Butterflies. New York: Chanticleer Press.
- Rudolph, Craig D.. et al. 2006. The Diana Fritillary (Speyeria diana) and Great Spangled Fritillary (Speyeria cybele): Dependence on Fire in the Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas. Journal of the Lepidopterists’ Society 60(4): 218-226.
