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Genus Speyeria - Greater Fritillaries

In the Meadow - Speyeria cybele Wallowa Mtn Speyeria - Speyeria hesperis - female Spikey caterpillar 1 - Speyeria cybele - male Great Spangled Fritillary For Illinois In June - Speyeria cybele - male Diana - Speyeria diana - female Edward's Fritillary? - Speyeria edwardsii ? - Speyeria edwardsii - female Species ID? - Speyeria cybele - male Butterfly - Speyeria cybele
Show images of: caterpillars · adults · both
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
Superfamily Papilionoidea (Butterflies (excluding skippers))
Family Nymphalidae (Brushfooted Butterflies)
Subfamily Heliconiinae (Heliconians and Fritillaries)
Genus Speyeria (Greater Fritillaries)
Numbers
Nearctica.com lists 14 North American species.
Size
Wingspan: 3.5 - 10.5 cm.
Range
Throughout North America.
Season
One brood from mid-June to mid-September
Food
Caterpillar food plant, violets, Viola.
Adults drink nectar; probably they need not only the carbohydrates but also some amino-acids to produce eggs.
Life Cycle
Oviposition on late summer in grassy areas near or on violet plants. First stage caterpillars don't feed. They overwinter until the spring when they start feeding on the growing food plant.