Speyeria hydaspe

(Boisduval, 1869)

Hydaspe fritillary

hydaspe, the Hydaspe fritillary, is a small orange-brown of western North America. are active from July through September and feed on flower nectar. The is distinguished from similar fritillaries by its smooth, even postmedian spotband. A single occurs annually. Caterpillars feed on violets, particularly Viola glabella.

Speyeria hydaspe 19783 by wikipedia. Used under a CC BY 2.5 license.

Boloria epithore (9401122893) by LassenNPS. Used under a Public domain license.

Speyeria hydaspe (23542251540) by USFWS - Pacific Region. Used under a Public domain license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Speyeria hydaspe: /ˈspaɪəriə ˈhaɪdəsˌpi/

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

Identification

Distinguished from Speyeria zerene and Speyeria atlantis by the smooth, even appearance of its postmedian spotband. The Vancouver Island can be identified by its silver underwing spots, contrasting with the cream-colored spots typical of other .

Images

Appearance

A small fritillary with orange-brown upperwing coloration. Underwings typically display cream-colored spots, though the Vancouver Island has silver spots instead. The postmedian spotband on the wings appears smooth and even, lacking the irregularities seen in related .

Habitat

Moist forests, clearings, and subalpine meadows. Associated with supporting violet plants.

Distribution

Western portions of the United States and Canada. Documented from Alberta and Saskatchewan in Canada.

Seasonality

Single flies from July through September.

Diet

Caterpillars feed on violets (Viola spp.), specifically documented on Viola glabella. feed on flower nectar.

Host Associations

Viola glabella - larval plantPrimary documented for caterpillars

Speyeria zereneOverlapping range and similar orange-brown coloration; distinguished by irregular postmedian spotband
Speyeria atlantisOverlapping range and similar appearance; distinguished by uneven postmedian spotband pattern

More Details

Subspecies variation

The Vancouver Island exhibits silver underwing spots rather than the cream-colored spots typical of mainland .