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Species Speyeria diana - Diana

Speyeria diana - male Speyeria diana - female Dianas - girl and boy - Speyeria diana - male - female Diana - Speyeria diana - female  Diana fritillary, male - Speyeria diana - male Two Diana Females on Roadside Thistle - Speyeria diana - female Speyeria diana  - Speyeria diana - female Speyeria diana  - Speyeria diana - female
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)
Species diana (Diana)
Other Common Names
Diana Fritillary
Size
Wingspan 9-11 cm.
Identification
A spectacularly dimorphic species. Males are brown with an orange border. Femaleas are blue and black members of the Pipevine Swallowtail mimicry complex.
Range
Souther Appalachian region, also Ozark Mountains in Arkansas, Missouri. Rather local and rare.
Habitat
Rich woods in mountains, valleys, and adjacent fields, edges.
Season
Mid-June to September, one flight.
Food
Adults take nectar, other fluids, such as from dung.
Life Cycle
Eggs are laid on twigs, leaves, near hosplant, violets. (Female walks on the ground while ovipositing!) Caterpillars hatch and overwinter without feeding. The feed on fresh violet foliage in the spring.
Print References
Brock (1)
Glassberg (2)
Scott (3)
Allen (4)