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Butterflies of
Britain & Europe
Pearl-bordered
Fritillary
Clossiana euphrosyne
LINNAEUS, 1758
Family - NYMPHALINAE
subfamily -
HELICONIINAE
Tribe - ARGYNNINI
introduction
|
habitats |
lifecycle |
adult behaviour
Text and images protected by Copyright © Adrian
Hoskins 2007-2008, ( unless stated otherwise ) and must not be reproduced or published in part
or in whole elsewhere in any form without written permission from
Adrian Hoskins. Breach of copyright will be pursued by litigation.
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Pearl-bordered Fritillary
Clossiana euphrosyne, copulated
pair, Hampshire, England
Introduction
The
English name of this beautiful and increasingly rare species is derived from the
row of silvery spots around the borders of the underside hindwings. The Latin
name refers to Euphrosyne, the Greek goddess of Joy, and one of the three
Graces.
Pearl-bordered Fritillary
Clossiana euphrosyne, male, Hampshire, England
It often
shares it's habitats
with the closely related
Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary, but can tolerate drier
conditions.
The flight periods of the 2 species overlap, so that worn
specimens of euphrosyne can be
seen in the company of fresh specimens of
selene. The latter is easily
distinguished by examining the undersides, which have additional silver spots in the median area,
and distinct black chevrons on the inner edge of the submarginal
silver spots. The uppersides of selene have darker veins
and more linear markings than euphrosyne.
See
comparison photographs.
The flight
period of the Pearl-bordered Fritillary
is variable according to season, usually from early May until early June, but
the butterflies can
emerge in
mid-late April in forward seasons,
hence the old name "April Fritillary".
Click here to see
the historic names of all British butterflies.
Pearl-bordered
Fritillary, Hampshire, England
Habitats
The Pearl-bordered Fritillary was formerly widespread in Britain, and in the 1960's was still regarded as fairly common in woods throughout England and Wales - in fact it was quite difficult then to find a wood where the butterfly did not occur. In the last 40 years however it has contracted it's range dramatically - a result of the virtual cessation of coppice management in woodlands. Coppicing created a profusion of violets and nectar sources such as bugle, which are essential to the survival of the butterfly. Neglect of coppices, and the coniferisation of almost all Forestry Commission land, has eliminated most colonies in Britain. Populations continue to decline, and local extinctions are increasing, but the butterfly still occurs at about 80 sites in the UK, mainly in the western counties of England, Wales and Scotland. The butterflies breed in lightly wooded habitats where dog violets or marsh violets grow in profusion in small sheltered clearings, and where bracken is present but not dominant. Typical sites include hazel coppice, clearings and wide rides in coniferous or deciduous woodland, limestone pavements, and around the northern shores of Scottish lochs.
Pearl-bordered Fritillary
Clossiana euphrosyne, male,
Hampshire, England
Lifecycle
The butterflies emerge in May, and lay their eggs singly
or
in pairs,
on dry bracken or dead grasses in sheltered and semi-shaded
situations
where violets grow in profusion.
The caterpillars hatch after about 2 weeks, feeding diurnally on
the leaves of dog violet
Viola riviniana.
In northern Britain
V. palustris
is more commonly used, and in Europe
V. odorata
and
V. hirta
are also used.
In
August or September, when about half grown, they enter
hibernation amongst leaf litter. The following spring, usually
in late March, they awaken and
on sunny days can sometimes be seen basking on dead bracken and
oak leaves on the forest floor. They continue feeding on violet
leaves, becoming fully grown in April, when they are black, with
bright yellow-orange spikes along the back.
In mid April they wander in search
of a pupation site. The greyish brown pupa hangs by the cremaster from a dry
stem, close to the ground.
Occasionally a partial 2nd brood
emerges in August, but this is extremely unusual in Britain,
even in very warm summers.
Adult behaviour
Pearl-bordered Fritillary Clossiana euphrosyne, female, Surrey, England
The flight of the Pearl-bordered Fritillary is rapid and in broad circles, with a flit-and-glide motion, just above the herb layer.
The butterflies periodically dip down to the ground to gorge themselves on the nectar of their favourite flowers - bugle. They adopt a head-downwards posture while feeding, as they have a relatively short proboscis, and cannot easily reach into the flowers when in an upright position. Although bugle is greatly preferred, they also occasionally nectar at dandelion, and I have seen them visiting hawthorn blossom in the New Forest.
On sunny mornings early in the flight season males can be seen patrolling relentlessly around woodland clearings in search of potential mates. Females are probably mated very soon after emergence, and in many cases before their maiden flight. Copulation takes place in late morning or early afternoon, and lasts about an hour.
Male-male encounters result in a brief dog-fight lasting only a few seconds, after which each goes their separate way.
In cloudy but bright weather, both sexes spend short periods basking, sometimes on logs or bare earth, but more commonly on dead bracken.
Pearl-bordered Fritillary Clossiana euphrosyne, male nectaring at bugle flowers
Overnight, or in heavily overcast weather, they roost in sheltered situations, typically on bracken fronds, on the dead flower-heads of St Johns wort, or on the leaf buds of pine saplings. In wet weather they roost tucked under dead bracken and leaf litter.
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