© Cathy Cook

Coulson Gulch, Boulder County

Appearance: Upperside tawny orange with thick dark veins and markings; black spots near margin. Hindwing margin angled and slightly scalloped. Its overall lighter coloration helps distinguish it from other fritillaries. Underside of hindwing with a mottled pattern, broad, whitish median band across both wings, and no silver spots.

Size: Large, 1 3/4 to 3 1/8 inches

Habitat: Open sunny areas such as prairies, fields, pastures, road edges.

Season: Early May through September.

Larval Foodplant: Violets (Viola) and, occasionally, yellow stonecrop (Sedum).

Did You Know...
The larva (caterpillar) has bold orange and black markings with white spots and six rows of black spines. This is the only large fritillary which does not have either silvered or unsilvered spots on the underside of the hindwing.