Speyeria egleis

(Behr, 1862)

Great Basin fritillary, egleis fritillary

Speyeria egleis is a medium-sized fritillary native to western North America. are active from late June through August and inhabit mountain meadows, forest openings, and exposed rocky ridges. The exhibits strong fidelity to Viola species as larval plants. Multiple have been described across its range, reflecting geographic variation in and distribution.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Speyeria egleis: /ˈspaɪəriə ˈɛɡlaɪs/

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Identification

Wingspan 45–60 mm. Upper wing surface bright to dull orange-brown with dark markings. Similar to other Speyeria but distinguished by geographic range and preferences. Specific diagnostic characters separating it from closely related fritillaries require examination of wing pattern details and genitalia; field identification to species level is challenging without regional expertise.

Habitat

Mountain meadows, forest openings, and exposed rocky ridges. Occupies montane environments with sufficient insolation and presence of larval plants.

Distribution

United States: North Dakota southwest through Oregon to California, and south to Colorado. Canadian records from Alberta and Saskatchewan.

Seasonality

on wing from late June to August. Single brooded with .

Diet

Larvae feed on leaves of Viola , specifically documented on V. adunca, V. nuttallii, V. purpurea, and V. walteri. feeding habits not explicitly documented in available sources.

Host Associations

Viola adunca - larval documented larval food plant
Viola nuttallii - larval documented larval food plant
Viola purpurea - larval documented larval food plant
Viola walteri - larval documented larval food plant

Life Cycle

Females deposit on or near plants. Larvae hatch and feed on Viola leaves. stage not explicitly documented for this , though related Speyeria species overwinter as partially grown larvae. and occur in early summer.

Similar Taxa

Speyeria cybeleOverlapping range and similar orange-brown wing coloration; S. cybele is larger (wingspan 57–70 mm) with more extensive silvery spotting on wing undersides and broader geographic distribution across northern North America
Speyeria atlantisSimilar montane preferences and wing pattern; requires examination of genitalia or detailed wing pattern analysis for definitive separation