Butterfly of the Month/June

Great Spangled Fritillary

The Great Spangled Fritillary (Speyeria cybele cybele) is a common butterfly throughout the High Virginia's. It is a butterfly of openings near woodland areas. This species can be found from late May - October. There are eight species of the Longwing subfamily that may be found in our area. The Great  Spangled is the largest of the species that we commonly see. Members of this family are long-living; up to six months. Older specimens are often beat up and ragged looking.
The host plant for caterpillars is one of the many violet species. Twenty-seven species of violet are known to occur in West Virginia. This is the reason that the members of the Fritillary family are so widespread. Preferred nectar sources of the Great Spangled Fritillary are milkweeds, thistles and joe-pye weed.
The Butterflies Of West Virginia and their Caterpillars (Pitt Series in Nature and Natural History)
West Virginia Butterflies & Moths: An Introduction to Familiar Species (State Nature Guides)

Posted by High Virginia Outdoors     Photos by High Virginia Images