Aphrodite Fritillary (Speyeria aphrodite)

Common in the mountains of NC, this species is similar in appearance to Great Spangled Fritillary, and careful study is usually required to differentiate the two in the field.

The best field mark is that this species has a narrow light yellowish submarginal border between the silver spots on the underside of the hindwing. (Great Spangled shows a wide light orange band there.)

Although single brooded, this large, showy butterfly flies from May into September and is often found in the same meadows as Great Spangleds.

Alleghany Co., NC 1 July 2006	Alleghany Co., NC 1 July 2006

		The late Ron Gatrelle suggested to me that these individuals are likely intergrades between two subspecies: (Speyeria aphrodite aphrodite) and (Speyeria aphrodite cullasaja) but are closer to the former.
Watauga Co., NC 27 June 2004	Watauga Co., NC 27 June 2004

(Speyeria aphrodite aphrodite) Allegan Co., MI 5 July 2004	(Speyeria aphrodite aphrodite) Allegan Co., MI 5 July 2004

North Carolina Butterflies | North American Butterflies | Jeff's Nature Page

Created on ... July 16, 2004 | Updated on ... July 4, 2006 | jspippen@duke.edu