Boloria freija

Thunberg, 1791

Freija fritillary

Species Guides

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Boloria freija is a circumboreal fritillary found in Arctic and subarctic across the Northern Hemisphere. The exhibits a two-year , with larvae feeding on specific bog and tundra plants including cloudberry and various Ericaceae. are active during brief summer periods in northern latitudes.

Chlorissa viridata Kurjenrahka by Lepidoptera_of_Kurjenrahka.jpg: J. Albert Vallunen (Albval) derivative work: J. Albert Vallunen (Albval). Used under a CC BY-SA 3.0 license.Nacré de l'orcette MHNT dos by Didier Descouens. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.Nacré de l'orcette MHNT ventre by Didier Descouens. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Boloria freija: /bəˈloʊriə ˈfreɪjə/

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Identification

Hindwing underside features a distinct silvery white band between central and marginal areas, with a large rhomboidal silver spot at the center and elongated silver marginal spots. Upperside resembles Boloria dia in size and pattern. More variegated hindwing underside distinguishes it from Boloria chariclea.

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Habitat

Restricted to bogs and tundra . Occupies open, wet moorland and Arctic-alpine environments with low vegetation cover.

Distribution

Circumboreal distribution spanning Northern Europe north of 60°N (with occasional southern records), the Urals, Siberia, Russian Far East, mountains of northern Mongolia, Hokkaido, and North America extending south to 35°N in the Rocky Mountains.

Seasonality

period occurs during summer months; exact timing varies by latitude with shorter seasons at northern extremes.

Diet

Larvae feed on Rubus chamaemorus (cloudberry), Dryas , Vaccinium uliginosum, Arctostaphylos alpina, A. uva-ursi (kinnikinnick), Empetrum nigrum (crowberry), Rhododendron aureum, and Rhododendron lapponicum. nectar sources not documented in available sources.

Host Associations

  • Rubus chamaemorus - larval food plant
  • Dryas - larval food plant
  • Vaccinium uliginosum - larval food plant
  • Arctostaphylos alpina - larval food plant
  • Arctostaphylos uva-ursi - larval food plant
  • Empetrum nigrum - larval food plant
  • Rhododendron aureum - larval food plant
  • Rhododendron lapponicum - larval food plant

Life Cycle

Produces one every two years. Complete with , larval, pupal, and stages; specific developmental timing undocumented.

Similar Taxa

  • Boloria diaSimilar upperside size and pattern; distinguished by hindwing underside markings
  • Boloria charicleaHindwing underside resembles freija but lacks the distinct silvery white band and more variegated pattern

More Details

Etymology

Named after Freya, the goddess of love and war in Norse mythology.

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Sources and further reading