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Euptoieta claudia Doubleday, [1848]
Fritillaries; Variegated Fritillary
Family: Nymphalidae (Brushfoots)
Species account authors: Crispin Guppy and Jon Shepard.
Extracted from Butterflies of British Columbia.
Introduction to the Lepidoptera of BC
Introduction to the Butterflies of BC
The Families of Lepidoptera of BC

Photograph

© Ian Gardiner     (Photo ID #5779)

Map

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Distribution of Euptoieta claudia in British Columbia.
(Click on the map to view a larger version.)
Source: Butterflies of British Columbia by Crispin Guppy and Jon Shepard © Royal BC Museum

Species Information


Adult

The Variegated Fritillary is the only fritillary in which the outer margin of the forewing is concave rather than convex. There are no silver spots on the undersides of the wings.

Immature Stages

The mature larva is similar to Speyeria larvae, but the spines are longer and the body colour is brick red, not black as in the Speyeria (P.A. Hammond, pers. comm.). The ground colour of the pupa is white, and two lines of protuberances are brown.

Subspecies

None. The type locality of the species is "Jamaica."

Genus Description


The name Euptoieta is derived from the Greek eu (true) and ptoietos (terror or truly terrifying). This is in reference to the type species of the genus, claudia, for the Roman emperor Claudius I. Claudius, Tiberius, Nero, and Caligula were infamous for their terrifying reigns in what is known as the Julia-Claudian dynasty. The common name "fritillaries" is shared with the rest of the subfamily.

Adults of the genus Euptoieta lack silver spots on the underside of the wings. The underside ground colour is a diffused tan to grey, and more closely resembles some European woodnymphs (Satyrinae). The upperside is that of a typical fritillary. There are only two species in this Neotropical genus, one of which is an occasional migrant to southeastern BC. Biologically and morphologically, this genus is a connecting link between the genus Speyeria in the Nearctic and the well-known Neotropical genus Heliconius Kluk, 1780.

Biology


Adults of the Variegated Fritillary have been seen, as rare individuals, from 17 July to 4 September. Outside BC, in late summer and early fall the larvae of the Variegated Fritillary can sometimes be seen feeding on garden pansies. They stay on the foodplant during the day. This species never overwinters, as it is intolerant of freezing or even near-freezing temperatures. It is unlikely that it even attempts to breed in BC.

Habitat


The Variegated Fritillary is an uncommon migrant found at all elevations in southeastern BC. It has no habitat preferences in the province because it does not breed here.

Distribution

Distribution

The Variegated Fritillary is found as a migrant from southeastern BC across CAN to PQ. It is a permanent resident from southern AZ east to NC and south.

Status Information

Origin StatusProvincial StatusBC List
(Red Blue List)		COSEWIC
NativeS3NBlueNot Listed



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