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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) » Butterflies and Skippers (Papilionoidea) » Brush-footed Butterflies (Nymphalidae) » Heliconians and Fritillaries (Heliconiinae) » Fritillaries (Argynnini) » Greater Fritillaries (Speyeria) » Diana Fritillary - Hodges#4449 (Speyeria diana)

Species Speyeria diana - Diana Fritillary - Hodges#4449

Classification · Hodges Number · Explanation of Names · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Season · Food · Life Cycle · Remarks · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)

Superfamily Papilionoidea (Butterflies and Skippers)

Family Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)

Subfamily Heliconiinae (Heliconians and Fritillaries)

Tribe Argynnini (Fritillaries)

Genus Speyeria (Greater Fritillaries)

Species diana (Diana Fritillary - Hodges#4449)

Hodges Number

4449

Explanation of Names

Speyeria diana (Cramer, 1777)

Size

Wingspan 9-11 cm.

Identification

A spectacularly dimorphic species. Males are brown with an orange border. Females are blue and black members of the Pipevine Swallowtail mimicry complex.

females:

males:

Range

Southern Appalachian region, also Ozark Mountains - Map (MPG)

Rather local and rare.

Habitat

Rich woods in mountains, valleys, and adjacent fields, edges.

Season

Mid-June to September, one flight.

Food

Larvae host on violets (Viola spp.)

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. They feed on fresh violet foliage in the spring.

Remarks

Oklahoma considers this to be a "Species of Greatest Conservation Need" (SGCN) [cite:120795]

Print References

Brock (1)

Glassberg (2)

Scott (3)

Allen (4)

Internet References

Butterflies of America - BOA

Moth Photographers Group - MPG

Butterflies and Skippers of North America - BAMONA

Works Cited

1.	Butterflies of North America (Kaufman Focus Guides) Jim P. Brock, Kenn Kaufman. 2003. Houghton Mifflin Co.

2.	Butterflies Through Binoculars: The East Jeffrey Glassberg. 1999. Oxford University Press.

3.	The Butterflies of North America: A Natural History and Field Guide James A. Scott. 1992. Stanford University Press.

4.	The Butterflies of West Virginia and Their Caterpillars Thomas J. Allen. 1998. University of Pittsburgh Press.

Contributed by Cotinis on 12 June, 2004 - 6:21am
Additional contributions by Mike Quinn, Dave Webb
Last updated 21 February, 2024 - 2:40am

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