The Fritillaries, like the Vanessids, belong to the family Nymphalidae. Their basic upper-wing colour scheme of black markings on a brown or golden brown background colour (latin fritillus meaning chequerboard) provides a common theme, although the different species vary in size, underwing markings, habitat requirements and behaviour. The larger Fritillaries, of which there are two representatives in Hampshire, are both strong fliers.

 

Dark Green Fritillary - Argynnis aglaja

Wingspan: 57-68mm

The Dark Green Fritillary is one of our larger fritillaries and also one of the most powerful flyers. In Hampshire the major colonies are to be found on flower-rich chalk downland, but colonies also exist (in smaller numbers) on the New Forest heaths and the butterfly will occasionally be encountered in open forest glades. The females tend to be slightly paler (and larger) than the males. The larvae feed on members of the viola family such as common dog violet.

When to see:.There is only one generation per year, the butterflies typically start emerging towards the end of June on downland sites (a few days later on heathland sites) with the flight period lasting until mid August.

Where to see: Large and sometimes prolific sites for this species in Hampshire are Martin Down and Old Winchester Hill. The species is also present on Stockbridge Down (in small numbers) and Farley Mount Country Park (Pitt Down), where the photo was taken. In the New Forest it can be found on a few heathland areas such as Beaulieu Heath. This species also frequents the open areas close to the stream within the Hawkhill Inclosure.

 

Glanville Fritillary - Melitaea cinxia

Wingspan: 37-47mm

The Glanville Fritillary is in the category of our smaller fritilliaries and is at the very limit of its northern range in UK. Its preferred habitat in UK are the crumbling undercliffs and chines on the southern coast of the Isle of Wight where it is doing well. The lack of suitable habitat on the mainland and its range limit have resulted in very few naturalised colonies on the south coast of Hampshire.  Its habitat requirements are also such that no other fritillary types are likely to be encountered in the same location as the Glanville. The butterflies are active, sun loving and accomplished fliers and have a partiality for yellow composite flowers. The larvae feed on ribwort plantain

When to see: There is only one generation per year emerging in late May, the flight peroiod lasting about a month. Early June is usually a good time to look for this species.

Where to see: Until recently, Hordle Cliff near Milford-on-Sea was considered to be the only Glanville Fritillary colony in Hampshire, however numbers of Glanvilles Fritillaries there have been low in recent years. Thus, the recent news of Glanvilles colonising  a flower rich meadow close to Hurst Castle, several miles east of Hordle Cliff has been received with delight amongst the butterfly community. It is hoped these two colonies will act as a springboard for the species to spread to other loacations along the coast.

   

Marsh Fritillary - Euphydryas aurinia

Wingspan ~30-50mm

The Marsh Fritillary is one our most attractive fritillaries, with its distinctive colouration and bold markings. Sadly it also in decline not only in UK but also in Europe and is now a protected species (in all life stages) at European level through the Berne Convention. It is not a marsh species, but found in damp tussocky meadows and also calcerous grassland where its larval foodplant, devils-bit scabious is abundant amongst taller grasses. Its rapid decline is attributed to habitat loss from inappropriate grazing schemes and drainage of the damp meadows it favours. The fragmentation of habitat has also contributed to the butterfly's demise, since the long term survival of the species seems to depend on the presence of several  'metapopulations' in an area. These need to be in close enough proximity for natural recolonisation in the event of local extinctions, for instance as a result of parasitic attack. Nevertheless in UK, whilst it has been lost from many central and eastern areas, it retains strongholds on Salisbury Plain, some chalk downland and damp meadow sites in Wiltshire and Dorset, the Culm grasslands of Devon and some parts of Wales and Western Scotland. There are also a few small colonies remaining in damp woodland sites.

When to see: The adult butterflies typically start to emerge about the third week in May, however the flight period can be quite short at Hampshire's small colonies, and is usually over by mid June.

Where to see: The butterfly is present in small numbers at two sites in Hampshire - Bentley Wood (Eastern Clearing) and Martin Down (Bokerley Ditch). After several very poor, indeed precarious years at these sites, numbers seem to recovering. There are much stronger colonies at sites in neighbouring counties such as Hod Hill and the Cerne Abbas Giant in Dorset and on the Pewsey Downs in Wiltshire.

 

Pearl-bordered Fritillary - Boloria euphrosyne

Wingspan: ~37-47mm

The Pearl-bordered Fritillary acquires its name from the outer row of 'pearly' spots on the underside wings and is the first of our fritillary species to emerge - sometimes as early as late April in warm years.  There is concern nationally over its UK status due to its rapid decline in the last few decades, particularly from eastern and central areas of England. In the south of England, including Hampshire, it is a woodland species but is dependant on the implementation of appropriate woodland management to maintain a suitable habitat. This requires the creation of clearings (e.g. by coppicing) to regenerate and maintain a rich ground flora, and in particular to encourage violets on which the larvae feed, and spring flowers such as bugle for the adult butterflies. Consistent with the national trend, the Pearl-bordered Fritillary is now confined in Hampshire to a few sites in the west of the county, including the New Forest and can sometimes be found in company with its close relation, the Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary. The section below on Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary provides guidance on the differences between the two species.

When to see: The butterflies normally emerge in early May, the flight period lasting until mid June.

Where to see: Good sites (and now almost the only ones in the county) are Bentley Wood (Eastern clearing and also along open rides) and the large woodland complex in the New Forest, east of the Lyndhurst - Brockenhurst road (eg Pignal, Ramnor, Parkhill, Denny Lodge, Perrywood-Hazeley and New Copse inclosures). In the New Forest the butterflies can be seen in areas of regeneration and along some of the rides.

 

Silver-washed Fritillary - Argynnis paphia

Wingspan: 67-77mm

The Silver-Washed Fritillary is our largest fritillary and very much a woodland species, often plentiful in the New Forest, but also found in several of the county's other broad-leaved and mixed woodlands. The butterflies seem particularly partial to flowers of bramble and thistles. They are sun loving and often fly up into the trees when a heavy cloud passes, to descend like a shower of leaves when it re-appears. Another unusual characteristic occurs during courtship when the males will make “cartwheels in the air” around a flying female. Hampshire is noted for a higher proportion of an aberrant form of the female called Valezina, in which the golden brown base colour is replaced by a greenish-bronze. Like a number of the fritillaries, the larvae feed on violets.

When to see: There is only one generation per year beginning in late June and continuing until late August.  July is probably the best month to see this species.

Where to see: As stated earlier, the New Forest is good for this species (too many locations to mention) however the large woodland complex east of the Lyndhurst-Brockenhurst road is usually reliable, Pondhead Inclosure in particular, being worthy of  specific mention for this species.  Other good sites elsewhere in the county are are Pamber Forest, Whiteley Pastures, Bentley Wood and Crab Wood (part of Farley Mount Country Park).

 

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary - Boloria selene

Wingspan: ~35-42mm

The Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary is similar to its larger cousin, the Pearl-bordered Fritillary (PBF), but its habitat requirements are a little less restricted, which has enabled it to maintain a wider UK distribution. In Hampshire, the Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary prefers damp woodland clearings, where it can sometimes be seen in company with the Pearl-bordered Fritillary. There are several factors to distinguish between the two: the black spot at the centre of the underside hindwing (missing in the PBF), the position of the black spot along the trailing edge upperside forewing which is closer to the outer row of spots in the Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary. Behavioural differences include the later emergence of the Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary by 2-3 weeks (hence newly emerged ones are likely to be in company with faded PBF's) and finally the Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary tends to fly slightly higher than the PBF (waist height versus knee height).

When to see: The Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary is usually on the wing from late May, the flight period lasting until late June or early July.

Where to see: In Hampshire, the species is sadly becoming restricted to a few small scattered colonies. Like the PBF, it can be seen in Bentley Wood (Eastern clearing, far end). Other small colonies include Pamber Forest in the north, together with a couple of sites in or close to the New Forest, such as the Holmsley Inclosure and Roydon Common.