Bug FAQSilver-washed Fritillary
Argynnis paphia · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Nymphalidae
The silver-washed fritillary is a deep orange butterfly with black spots on the upper wings and a greenish underside with metallic silver bands. It lives in sunny deciduous woods, especially oak, and its caterpillars feed on common dog violet; adults sip nectar from bramble, thistles and knapweed and also take aphid honeydew. Eggs hatch in August, the larvae hibernate until spring, pupate among ground vegetation, and adults emerge in June, flying from July to September in Europe.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Upper wings are deep orange with black spots, while the underside is green with a metallic sheen and broad curved silver bands.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Wingspan ranges from 54 to 70 mm; males are smaller and paler than females.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
Prefers thin, sunny deciduous woodlands, especially oak, but can also be found in coniferous woods.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Adults feed on nectar of bramble, thistles, knapweeds and also on aphid honeydew. Caterpillars eat the common dog violet (Viola riviniana).
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Eggs hatch in August; the caterpillars hibernate through winter and resume feeding in spring. Pupation occurs among ground vegetation and adults emerge in June.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are on the wing from July to September in Europe and until October in eastern Asia. They often visit bramble, scabious and thistle flowers where they can be easily caught.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Found across much of the Palearctic region, from Algeria and Europe to Japan.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
Males have three distinct scent-streaks on the forewing veins, which release pheromones that attract females and help tell this species apart from others.
Source: Wikipedia
Questions people ask
What plants do the caterpillars eat?
The larvae feed on the common dog violet (Viola riviniana).
Source: Wikipedia
When can I see these butterflies?
In Europe they fly from July through September; in eastern Asia they may be seen until October.
Source: Wikipedia
How can I tell a male from other butterflies?
Males have three scent-streaks on the forewing veins that release a pheromone, a feature not found in similar species.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Nymphalidae)
Sources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver-washed_fritillary
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-22 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-22.