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This butterfly is our largest fritillary and gets its name from the beautiful streaks of silver found on the underside of the wings. The bright orange male is quite distinctive as it flies powerfully along woodland rides, pausing only briefly to feed or investigate anything with an orange hue that could be a potential mate. The male has four distinctive black veins on its forewings that contain special “androconial” scales that are used in courtship. These veins are known as “sex brands”. The female is paler than the male, has rounder wings and more-prominent spots. In England and Wales, the Silver-washed Fritillary is found in woodlands south of a line between Montgomeryshire in the west and East Kent in the east, with a few scattered colonies elsewhere, including those in Westmorland and West Lancashire. This species is also widely distributed in Ireland, but is absent from Scotland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. Subspecies: Argynnis paphia paphia The nominate subspecies was first defined in Linnaeus (1758) as shown here (type locality: Sweden). The British population is represented by this subspecies.
Form: Argynnis paphia paphia f. valesina This form was first defined in Esper (1800) as shown here and as shown in this plate. This spectacular form occurs in a small percentage of females, primarily in the larger colonies in the south of England, where the orange-brown colouring is replaced with a deep olive-green. The legendary lepidopterist, Frederick William Frohawk, was so taken with this form, that he named his only daughter after it. This form is quite distinctive in flight, looking like an overgrown Ringlet, and has the common name of the “Greenish Silver-washed Fritillary”.
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Male |
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Male Underside |
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![Silver-Washed Fritillary - imago - Provence - 16-Jun-06 [David Newland]](image_generator.php?src=phpBB/gallery/images/cache/47c9f0589b8fb1079419f1d2516e43f1.jpg&r=223&g=246&b=216 "Silver-Washed Fritillary - imago - Provence - 16-Jun-06 [David Newland]") |
Female
Photo © David Newland |
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There is a single generation each year, with the butterfly on the wing from late June to the end of August. Subspecies: Argynnis paphia paphia 
The chart(s) above have been correlated with the phenology plot below, taken from the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme. The blue line gives average counts over the full data set from 1976 to date, and the red line gives the average for the last year. 
This butterfly is most-commonly found in woodland where the larval foodplant, Common Dog-violet, grows on the woodland floor. The butterfly can also be found flying along lanes and more-open countryside in some areas. Both deciduous and coniferous woodland is used – the presence of this butterfly is only limited by the presence of nectar sources and larval foodplant.
The primary larval foodplant is Common Dog-violet (Viola riviniana).
Adults feed primarily on Bramble (Rubus fruticosus). Fleabane (Pulicaria dysenterica), Knapweeds (Centaurea spp.), Privet (Ligustrum vulgare), Ragwort (Senecio jacobaea), Thistles (Cirsium spp. and Carduus spp.) and Water Mint (Mentha aquatica) are also used.
The adults spend much of their time in the woodland canopy where they feed on aphid honeydew. However, they often descend to nectar on Bramble blossom and Thistle flowers – two of their favourite nectar sources. The courtship flight of this butterfly is one of the most spectacular of all the British species. The female flies in a straight line while the male continuously loops under, in front and then over the top of the female. With the courtship flight over, the pair lands on a convenient platform where the male showers the female in scent scales. The male then draws the female’s antennae over the sex brand and mating subsequently takes place. Subspecies: Argynnis paphia paphia
Form: Argynnis paphia paphia f. valesina
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![Silver-Washed Fritillary - form - Grovely Woods, Wiltshire - 05-Jul-09 [Jules Cross]](image_generator.php?src=phpBB/gallery/images/cache/a32cf00b1b4f2e90bcb646ba767d62d0.jpg&r=223&g=246&b=216 "Silver-Washed Fritillary - form - Grovely Woods, Wiltshire - 05-Jul-09 [Jules Cross]") |
Photo © Jules Cross
05-Jul-2009 |
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Description to be completed. Unclassified Aberrations
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![Silver-Washed Fritillary - aberration - Straits Inclosure, Alice Holt Forest - 05-Jul-09 [Colin Baker]](image_generator.php?src=phpBB/gallery/images/cache/e7adf93d7ac0bcfad41d3a93795017be.jpg&r=223&g=246&b=216 "Silver-Washed Fritillary - aberration - Straits Inclosure, Alice Holt Forest - 05-Jul-09 [Colin Baker]") |
Photo © Colin Baker
05-Jul-2009 |
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![Silver-Washed Fritillary - aberration - Straits Inclosure, Alice Holt Forest - 05-Jul-09(2) [Colin Baker]](image_generator.php?src=phpBB/gallery/images/cache/36afdd751b9c7262586cb9f54480f983.jpg&r=223&g=246&b=216 "Silver-Washed Fritillary - aberration - Straits Inclosure, Alice Holt Forest - 05-Jul-09(2) [Colin Baker]") |
Photo © Colin Baker
05-Jul-2009 |
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![Silver-Washed Fritillary - aberration - Straits Inclosure, Alice Holt Forest - 05-Jul-09(3) [Colin Baker]](image_generator.php?src=phpBB/gallery/images/cache/b5c8ffe47e072e1991cb74fb7e222d8b.jpg&r=223&g=246&b=216 "Silver-Washed Fritillary - aberration - Straits Inclosure, Alice Holt Forest - 05-Jul-09(3) [Colin Baker]") |
Photo © Colin Baker
04-Jul-2009 |
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![Silver-Washed Fritillary - ocellata aberration - Straits Inclosure - Alice Holt Forest, Hampshire - 14.7.09 [Matthew Oates]](image_generator.php?src=phpBB/gallery/images/cache/6fdd24641bfded0e9e4eb5100dd34574.jpg&r=223&g=246&b=216 "Silver-Washed Fritillary - ocellata aberration - Straits Inclosure - Alice Holt Forest, Hampshire - 14.7.09 [Matthew Oates]") |
Photo © Matthew Oates
14-Jul-2009 |
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![Silver-Washed Fritillary - ocellata aberration - Straits Inclosure - Alice Holt Forest, Hampshire - 15.9.09 [Matthew Oates]](image_generator.php?src=phpBB/gallery/images/cache/d10961ea5423e4a11867fa470f6f5d56.jpg&r=223&g=246&b=216 "Silver-Washed Fritillary - ocellata aberration - Straits Inclosure - Alice Holt Forest, Hampshire - 15.9.09 [Matthew Oates]") |
Photo © Matthew Oates
15-Jul-2009 |
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Egg-laying females can be seen flying over the woodland floor searching out the larval foodplant, Common Dog-violet. They will sometimes alight on the woodland floor and crawl among the vegetation to determine the suitability of the site. If a suitable location is found, then the female flies to a nearby tree trunk and lays a single egg in a chink on the tree bark and several eggs may be laid on the same tree. These are typically laid on the moss-covered north-facing side of the tree and between 1 and 2 metres from the ground. It is believed that such a location provides a suitable “microclimate” for the overwintering larva.
The egg hatches in around 2 weeks. The larva, having eaten part of its eggshell, immediately moves into a crevice in the bark and spins a silk pad on which it hibernates. The following spring, the larva descends the tree trunk to the woodland floor in search of its first meal of violets. Larvae feed intermittently during the day on the most-tender leaves and shoots. The larva enjoys basking in sunlight and will wander away from the foodplant to find a suitable place to bask, such as on leaf litter. There are 4 moults in total.
The pupa is formed head down beneath a leaf, or twig of a tree or shrub, attached by the cremaster, and resembles a shrivelled leaf. This stage lasts between 2 and 3 weeks, depending on temperature.
Description to be completed.
Description to be completed.
Description to be completed.
Click here to see the distribution of this species overlaid with specific site information. Alternatively, select one of the sites listed below. |
| Aldbury Nowers, Alice Holt Forest, Allt Dolanog, Alner's Gorse, Andrew's Wood, Angmering Park Estate, Armstrong Wood Nature Reserve, Ashampstead Common, Ashclyst Forest, Aston Rowant NNR, Avon Heath Country Park, Aylesbeare Common, Backside Common, Ballykeeffe Wood, Bentley Station Meadow, Bentley Wood, Bernwood Forest, Betty Daw's Wood, Binsted Wood, Black Park, Blackmoor Copse, Bookham Common, Botley Wood, Bovey Valley Woodlands, Bowdown Woods, Box Hill Woods, Brackett's Coppice, Brickles Wood, Brown's Folly, Buckland Wood, Bunny's Hill, Cabilla Woods, Carpenters Down Wood, Chaddesley Woods, Clanger Wood, Clatworthy Reservoir, Coed Allt Fedw, Coole Park, Coombe Heath, Crab Wood, Croes Robert Wood, Crook Peak, Denny Wood, Devil's Spittleful and Rifle Range, Draycott Sleights, Dromore Wood, Duncliffe Woods, Dunsdon NNR, Dunsford Meadow, Earl's Hill, East Poldens Reserves, Eastcombe Wood, Ebbor Gorge, Ebernoe Common and Butcherland, Feystown, Fifehead Wood, Fontmell Down, Friary Wood, Garston Wood, Gelli-hir Wood, Glenarm, Glenarm Forest, Great Torrington Commons, Green Lane Wood, Greenscombe Woods, Grovely Wood, Haldon Butterfly Walk, Haldon Woods, Haugh Wood, Hayes Farm, Heddon Valley, Hembury Woods, Hethfelton Wood, Hod Hill, Holway Woods, Homefield Wood, Hookheath Meadows, Ketton Quarry, Kingbog, Kingcombe Meadows, Kingcombe Redholm, Kingcombe Stones, Lake Vyrnwy, Langford Heathfield, Latton Woods, Lea and Pagets Wood, Leigh Woods, Little Breach, Lord's Wood, Lough Bunny, Lower Woods, Lydlinch Common, Lyme Regis Undercliff, Mansmead wood, Marks Hall Estate, Monk Wood, Moor Copse, Moors Valley Country Park, Morgaston Wood, Mount Fancy Reserve, Nagshead, New Bridge, Noar Hill, Norbury Park, Nupend Wood, Oaken Wood, Oxwich, Pamber Forest, Park Corner Heath, Pembrey Country Park, Pentaloe Glen, Piddles Wood, Plymbridge Woods, Pondhead Inclosure, Powerstock Common, Quoditch Moor Nature Reserve, Ranmore Woods, Roudsea Wood NNR, Rowland Wood, Ryton Woods Meadows, Shapwick Heath, Shutts Copse, Slieve Gullion Forest Park, Somerford Common, Southwater Woods, Sovell Down, Standing Hat, Stockbridge Down, Strawberry Banks, Stubhampton Bottom, Tadnoll, The Knapp and Papermill, Thurlbear Quarrylands, Tickenham Ridge, Tring Park, Tucking Mill, Tudeley Woods RSPB Reserve, Ubley Warren, Vann lake, Wallis Wood, Walters Copse, Warburg Reserve, Watersmeet, Wendover Woods, West Down, West Williamston Salt Marshes, West Yatton Down, Whitbarrow Scar, White Hill Reserve, White Rocks, Whiteford Burrows, Whiteley Pastures, Witch Lodge Fields, Woodside, Wyre Forest, Ynys-Hir |
The status of the Silver-washed Fritillary in the British Isles is relatively-stable when compared with other species. However, this delightful woodland fritillary is still a species of conservation concern. |
| Species of Conservation Concern |  | |
From The State of Butterflies in Britain and Ireland and the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP) (2007 review).
The following links provide additional information on this butterfly.
The species description provided here has been derived from the author's own observations and the information contained in the following works:
- Asher (2001). Asher, J., Warren, M., Fox, R., Harding, P., Jeffcoate, G. and Jeffcoate, S.: The Millennium Atlas of Butterflies in Britain and Ireland. 2001.
- Fox (2006). Fox, R., Asher, J., Brereton, T., Roy, D. and Warren, M.: The State of Butterflies in Britain and Ireland. 2006.
- Frohawk (1914). Frohawk, F.W.: A Natural History of British Butterflies. 1914.
- Howarth (1973). Howarth, T.G.: South's British Butterflies. 1973.
- Nash (2012). Nash, D., Boyd, T. and Hardiman, D.: Ireland's Butterflies: A Review. 2012.
- Riley (2007). Riley, A.M.: British and Irish Butterflies: The Complete Identification, Field and Site Guide to the Species, Subspecies and Forms. 2007.
- South (1906). South, R.: The Butterflies Of The British Isles. 1906.
- Thomas & Lewington (2010). Thomas, J. and Lewington, R.: The Butterflies of Britain and Ireland. Edn.2. 2010.
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![Silver-Washed Fritillary - imago - Provence - 16-Jun-06 [David Newland]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/47c9f0589b8fb1079419f1d2516e43f1.jpg "Silver-Washed Fritillary - imago - Provence - 16-Jun-06 [David Newland]")
![Silver-Washed Fritillary - imago - Bentley Wood - 11-Jul-06 (2) [Tony Wootton]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/53f8cab57d9dfb8f2136c44edfefc182.jpg "Silver-Washed Fritillary - imago - Bentley Wood - 11-Jul-06 (2) [Tony Wootton]")
![Silver-Washed Fritillary - imago - Bentley Wood - 11-Jul-06 [Tony Wootton]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/96279f581139b361640bd5e3270813cc.jpg "Silver-Washed Fritillary - imago - Bentley Wood - 11-Jul-06 [Tony Wootton]")
![Silver-Washed Fritillary - imago - Farley Mount, Hants - Unknown date [Adrian Riley]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/a100db8f9bf7be0782258566db07099c.jpg "Silver-Washed Fritillary - imago - Farley Mount, Hants - Unknown date [Adrian Riley]")
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![Silver-Washed Fritillary - form - Grovely Woods, Wiltshire - 05-Jul-09 [Jules Cross]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/a32cf00b1b4f2e90bcb646ba767d62d0.jpg "Silver-Washed Fritillary - form - Grovely Woods, Wiltshire - 05-Jul-09 [Jules Cross]")
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![Silver-Washed Fritillary - aberration - Bath - 16-Jul-05 (3) [Simon Crampin]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/fbb398f43638f6704dc66427ffacaab0.jpg "Silver-Washed Fritillary - aberration - Bath - 16-Jul-05 (3) [Simon Crampin]")
![Silver-Washed Fritillary - aberration - Straits Inclosure, Alice Holt Forest - 05-Jul-09 [Colin Baker]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/e7adf93d7ac0bcfad41d3a93795017be.jpg "Silver-Washed Fritillary - aberration - Straits Inclosure, Alice Holt Forest - 05-Jul-09 [Colin Baker]")
![Silver-Washed Fritillary - aberration - Straits Inclosure, Alice Holt Forest - 05-Jul-09(2) [Colin Baker]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/36afdd751b9c7262586cb9f54480f983.jpg "Silver-Washed Fritillary - aberration - Straits Inclosure, Alice Holt Forest - 05-Jul-09(2) [Colin Baker]")
![Silver-Washed Fritillary - aberration - Straits Inclosure, Alice Holt Forest - 05-Jul-09(3) [Colin Baker]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/b5c8ffe47e072e1991cb74fb7e222d8b.jpg "Silver-Washed Fritillary - aberration - Straits Inclosure, Alice Holt Forest - 05-Jul-09(3) [Colin Baker]")
![Silver-Washed Fritillary - ocellata aberration - Straits Inclosure - Alice Holt Forest, Hampshire - 14.7.09 [Matthew Oates]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/6fdd24641bfded0e9e4eb5100dd34574.jpg "Silver-Washed Fritillary - ocellata aberration - Straits Inclosure - Alice Holt Forest, Hampshire - 14.7.09 [Matthew Oates]")
![Silver-Washed Fritillary - ocellata aberration - Straits Inclosure - Alice Holt Forest, Hampshire - 15.9.09 [Matthew Oates]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/d10961ea5423e4a11867fa470f6f5d56.jpg "Silver-Washed Fritillary - ocellata aberration - Straits Inclosure - Alice Holt Forest, Hampshire - 15.9.09 [Matthew Oates]")
![Silver-washed Fritillary - Bilateral gynandromorph - Southwater woods, West Sussex - 4.7.2010 [Colin Knight]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/b7400ce85a3ae06a0547e181464b0ca2.jpg "Silver-washed Fritillary - Bilateral gynandromorph - Southwater woods, West Sussex - 4.7.2010 [Colin Knight]")
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![Silver-Washed Fritillary - larva - Unknown location - Unknown date [REARED] [Reg Fry]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/1f85dda5b936bccb4af275478257defc.jpg "Silver-Washed Fritillary - larva - Unknown location - Unknown date [REARED] [Reg Fry]")
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