Zerene Fritillary

(Speyeria zerene)
Fritillaries

Appearance: Above, varies from rich to pale orange with strong median and postmedian black markings. Below, hindwing spots may be silvered or unsilvered; disk brown to reddish.  Marginal spots more triangular than on Coronis Fritillary.

Wingspan: Medium; 2 1/8 to 2 3/4 inches.

Habitat: Montane forests, shrubby areas, and meadows; foothills, montane.

Flight Times: Mid-June to August; one brood.

Larval Foodplant: Violets.

Did You Know…
Species closely related to Coronis Fritillary, but slightly smaller.  Females lay eggs on leaf litter near violets; unfed caterpillars overwinter and feed on fresh leaves of violets the following spring.