Queen of Spain Fritillary (Issoria lathonia)
Species

Male. Taken at General Todorov, Bulgaria, on June 25th 2014.
(1/320th sec at f13. © David Hastings)

Underside. Taken in the Vercors Natural Park, France, on July 23rd 2018.
(1/640th sec at f10. © David Hastings)

Description

Family: Heliconiinae

Wing span: 34 - 52mm (male); 50 - 56mm (female)

This species is easily identified by the large silver spots on the underwing. Its upper surface is bright orange with numerous rounded black spots. The sexes are similar, except that the female is usually larger.

It is common and widespread through most of Europe. It is a rare vagrant in northern Fennoscandia and the British Isles.

It is usually found in open environments such as hot, dry meadows, and fallow land, coastal dunes and rocky slopes up to 2900m.

There are up to four overlapping generations between early March and late October. It can survive the winter in all of the four life cycle stages.

The primary larval foodplants are Field Pansy (Viola arvensis) and Wild Pansy (Viola tricolor).

The adults are fond of nectaring on Thistles.

This species shows a strong tendency to migrate.

Sightings

23-Jul-2018 : Vercors Natural Park, France
20-Jul-2018 : Vercors Natural Park, France
19-Jul-2018 : Vercors Natural Park, France

06-Jun-2017 : Irinovac, Croatia

23-Jul-2015 : Pirin Mountains, Bulgaria
23-Jul-2015 : Papaz Tchair, Bulgaria
20-Jul-2015 : nr Samokov, Bulgaria

25-Jun-2014 : General Todorov, Bulgaria
24-Jun-2014 : Papaz Tchair, Bulgaria
22-Jun-2014 : Cherna River, Bulgaria
20-Jun-2014 : Arda River, Bulgaria
20-Jun-2014 : Valchi Dol, Bulgaria
19-Jun-2014 : nr Mirovo, Bulgaria
19-Jun-2014 : Momchilgrad, Bulgaria