Small Pearl-bordered Frillary © Zac SpaulSpecies Focus - Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary (Boloria selene)
Fritillary butterflies can be particularly challenging to identify as they look superficially similar and often all you see is an orange and brown butterfly flitting past. If you’re lucky you might find a more confiding specimen sat on a thistle or bramble flower drinking nectar. With these butterflies it’s very useful to take photographs to give yourself more time to study the subtle differences in wing markings, so that a reliable identification can be made.
This is particularly so with the Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary (Boloria selene) our Species Focus this month. The more numerous whitish pearls on the underside hind wings, the outer ones bordered by black veins, and the larger black central dot are critical to distinguish this species from the very similar, rarer Pearl-bordered Fritillary (Boloria euphrosyne). However, you are very unlikely to find Boloria euphrosyne outside of a small area in central Denbighshire near Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd, but always worth checking!
Mid-May until mid-July is the best time to see adult Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary, which like woodland edges, moorland and damp grassland. They lay their eggs on violets, particularly Common Dog-violet (Viola riviniana) and Marsh Violet (V. palustris).
If you see Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary in North Wales please submit your records, preferably with photographs, to the Cofnod ORS or the LERC Wales App.
Further information:
Butterfly Conservation ~ ~ UK Butterflies ~ ~ Photo to show differences between Small Pearl-bordered and Pearl bordered Fritillary.
On the Record
On the Record is our monthly online newsletter. It's full of interesting information about local wildlife recording, including that month's events and what to look out for in our Species Focus feature. Subscribe now to get next month's issue .