Fritillaries belong to the very large worldwide family Nymphalidae, the Brushfoots. All fritillaries have a similar appearance dorsally, tawny-orange to carrot-orange with a complex pattern of black lines and dashes. Fritillaries are divided into two groups, the greater and the lesser fritillaries. The greater “frits” are generally larger and have separated oval spots, often silvered, on the ventral hindwing (vhw). The lesser frits are smaller and have white or yellow vhw spots (silvered in one species) which are usually not oval in shape, or if oval are clustered and touching. All nine of our greater fritillaries are in the genus Speyeria, and all six of our lesser fritillaries are in the genus Boloria.

Only two of our lesser fritillaries are widespread and easily found in Washington, while the other four are localized to rare. Boloria bellona is one of our relatively rare species, found in only a few places in the State. Small localized populations occur in northern Washington in Okanogan and Ferry Counties, and additional outlier populations have been reported in the mountainous parts of Spokane, Whitman and Columbia Counties in the east and southeast of Washington. Populations fluctuate from year to year and in some years it can be quite difficult to find this species at all. Beyond Washington Boloria bellona has a wide range across nearly all of middle and southern Canada and throughout the northeast quarter of the US where it is common and spreading. The rarity of the Meadow Fritillary in Washington is owing to this area being on the extreme western fringe of the species’ range.

In Washington the Meadow Fritillary is believed to be double-brooded, while in other regions it has been reported to be single, double or triple brooded; multiple broods typically occur in areas with warmer climates and longer growing seasons. In Washington first-brood adults lay their eggs in mid to late June, on or in close proximity to their violet food plants near seeps or boggy areas. The pale yellow eggs have a truncated cone shape with numerous ribs, each rib with many small lateral cross- grooves, a morphology which is typical for all fritillaries. After hatching the larvae quickly feed up on the leaves of their violet host plants, reaching the final instar, pupating and then eclosing to 2nd brood adults all within 30 days after the eggs were laid. The mature larva is mottled grayish-purple, with a cluster of short brown unbranched spines sprouting from each of six bullae on each segment. There is a white dorsolateral stripe along each side of the caterpillar, with a contrasting black band below this stripe. The larva grows to about one inch before pupating to a mostly gray chrysalis, with indentations and spiny projections, hanging suspended from a silk pad (cremaster), but lacking a silk girdle. Little is known about the second brood in Washington, but judging by the rapid larval development in captivity the wild second brood should be on the wing by mid to late July. Adults have been reported in Washington from late May to early July (with some gaps), suggesting that the second brood is very poorly documented and is possibly much smaller in numbers than the first brood. In other areas the species is reported as overwintering in the 3rd or 4th larval instar.

On the dorsal surface the adult Meadow Fritillary looks much like its far more common cousin the Western Meadow Fritillary, Boloria epithore. Dorsally the two species are best separated by wing shape, B. bellona having distinctly truncated (squared) wing tips while those of B. epithore are evenly rounded. Ventrally the two species are easily differentiated by color and patterns on the vhw. While both species have broad pinkish bands on the outer half of the vhw, that of B. bellona is darker, more purplish, and is heavily infused with whitish-gray, imparting a mottled contrasting appearance. The inner half of the vhw is also different, B. epithore having much more distinct bright yellow clustered oval spots, while those of B. bellona are heavily infused with black scales giving a much darker appearance. Males patrol conspicuously looking for females in open forest areas bordered by grassy meadows and boggy streams, in the vicinity of violets, particularly their favored Viola canadensis. Females generally stay low in the vegetation and out of sight, and are best found by walking through the area and flushing them to flight or when being pursued by amorous males.

Photos by Dave Nunnallee

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