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BugGuide Gathering
Smoky Mountains
University of Tennessee Biological Field Station
August 8-10, 2008
Details...
 
Photos from the last gathering (Minnesota 2007)

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Species Speyeria diana - Diana

Speyeria diana - Diana - Speyeria diana - male Speyeria diana - male Speyeria diana - male Speyeria diana - female Diana - Speyeria diana - male Speyeria Diana (female above) - Speyeria diana - female Speyeria diana (male above) - Speyeria diana - male Speyeria diana (male below) - Speyeria diana - male
Show images of: caterpillars · adults · both
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
Superfamily Papilionoidea (Butterflies)
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
Glassberg (2)
Scott (3)
Allen (4)