Lesser Fritillaries

Boloria

Classification

Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Superfamily: Papilionoidea
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Heliconiinae
Tribe: Argynnini
Genus: Boloria

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Boloria: /bəˈlɔːriə/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Images

Summary

Boloria is a genus of brush-footed butterflies (Nymphalidae) known for their smaller size and confusing taxonomy. There are numerous species in North America and Eurasia, with distinctive markings and behaviors, particularly related to their diets and habitats.

Physical Characteristics

Wingspan 35-55 mm; smaller than Greater Fritillaries; mostly orange above with black markings; hindwing underside with different pattern than Greater Fritillaries, usually lacking silvered spots (exception: Boloria selene).

Identification Tips

Best identified by distinct markings on the hindwing underside, which differ per species; combination of location, time, and appearance are useful for identification even when only the upper side is visible.

Habitat

Primarily boreal and mountainous areas, including fields, wet meadows, bogs, arctic tundra, mountain tops, disturbed areas, and other open settings.

Distribution

Alaska and all of Canada, northern United States (Appalachians to North Carolina, Rockies to New Mexico, west coast to California); represented by +/- 10 species throughout much of Eurasia.

Diet

Larvae predominantly feed on Violets; others feed on Willow, Blueberry, Saxifrage, and Mountain Avens; adults nectar at many flower species and sip moisture from the ground.

Life Cycle

Most species overwinter as partly grown larvae; biennial species overwinter as newly hatched larvae and again as partly grown larvae (2nd winter); some Arctic and high mountain species fly only every other year.

Evolution

Boloria includes two primary subgenera: Clossiana and Proclossiana. Taxonomic classification and distinction among species have been debated, affecting the names used across regions. Some North American and Eurasian species are considered distinct by some authors while others combine them.

Misconceptions

Species names can be confusing due to various authors referring to the same insect by different names and debate over species distinctions.