Violet-specialist
Guides
Speyeria cybele
Great Spangled Fritillary
Speyeria cybele, the great spangled fritillary, is a large brush-footed butterfly native to North America. Adults have a wingspan of 2.25 to 4 inches, with orange-brown upper wings marked by black chevrons and distinctive silvery spots on the undersides. The species exhibits pronounced geographic variation: eastern populations are more orange, while western populations are browner. Females are slightly darker than males and have longer lifespans, often surviving into October. The butterfly has an obligate relationship with violets (Viola spp.) as larval host plants. Research has demonstrated that S. cybele relies primarily on vision for habitat detection and navigation, with flash-blinded individuals showing 30 times lower success in locating habitat patches.
Speyeria cybele charlottii
Charlottesville great spangled fritillary
Speyeria cybele charlottii is a subspecies of the great spangled fritillary butterfly, distinguished from other S. cybele populations by geographic occurrence in the eastern United States. The parent species is a large, orange and black butterfly with silvery spots on the undersides of its wings. Adults are strong, fast fliers that nectar on a wide range of flowers. The subspecific name references Charlottesville, Virginia.
Speyeria cybele leto
Great Spangled Fritillary (subspecies)
Speyeria cybele leto is a subspecies of the great spangled fritillary butterfly, a large and striking member of the brush-footed butterfly family Nymphalidae. This subspecies belongs to a species complex renowned for its silvery wing spots and close ecological association with violets as larval host plants. Research on Speyeria cybele has demonstrated that visual perception is the primary sense used for navigation to suitable habitat patches, with individuals capable of detecting and orienting toward habitat from distances of at least 60 meters. The species exhibits pronounced geographic variation in coloration, with western populations typically browner than their more orange eastern counterparts.
Speyeria cybele letona
Great Spangled Fritillary (western subspecies)
Speyeria cybele letona is a western North American subspecies of the great spangled fritillary, a large brush-footed butterfly with a wingspan of 2.25 to 4 inches. Research on Speyeria cybele indicates that visual perception is the primary sense used for navigation to suitable habitat patches, with individuals capable of detecting and navigating to target islands from distances up to 60 meters. The subspecies exhibits the orange-brown coloration typical of western populations of this species, in contrast to the more orange eastern populations.
Speyeria cybele novascotiae
Great Spangled Fritillary
Speyeria cybele novascotiae is a subspecies of the great spangled fritillary, a large brush-footed butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. This subspecies occurs in northern North America, including the Canadian provinces of Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan, as well as Vermont in the United States. Like other members of Speyeria cybele, adults exhibit strong visual-based navigation abilities to locate suitable habitat patches across fragmented landscapes.
Speyeria cybele pseudocarpenteri
Great Spangled Fritillary
A subspecies of the great spangled fritillary butterfly found in northern North America. Adults are strong, fast fliers with orange and black patterned wings and distinctive silvery spots on the undersides. Research on the nominate subspecies S. cybele has demonstrated that visual perception is the primary sense used for navigation to suitable habitat patches, with individuals capable of navigating from distances up to 60 meters to island habitats. Larvae feed on violet species and overwinter before completing development in spring.
Speyeria cybele pugetensis
great spangled fritillary
Speyeria cybele pugetensis is a western North American subspecies of the great spangled fritillary, a large orange and black butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It was described by F. Chermock and Frechin in 1947. Like other members of the Speyeria cybele complex, this subspecies exhibits strong visual navigation abilities for locating habitat patches and maintains a close ecological association with violets (Viola spp.) as larval host plants.
Speyeria hydaspe
Hydaspe fritillary
Speyeria hydaspe, the Hydaspe fritillary, is a small orange-brown butterfly of western North America. Adults are active from July through September and feed on flower nectar. The species is distinguished from similar fritillaries by its smooth, even postmedian spotband. A single brood occurs annually. Caterpillars feed on violets, particularly Viola glabella.