Butterflies at Home



Fritillary Butterflies

One of our favorite butterfly families, the Fritillary offers much color and geographic distribution. Their name is derived from the Latin word, fritillus, meaning chessboard; it is also the name of a flower featuring a checkered pattern.

There are fourteen species of the greater fritillaries (genus Speyeria) and sixteen lesser fritillaries (genus Bolloria). 

Most are orange and black with various checkered designs. Many are similar, and difficult to identify. Here are some common ones seen around the USA:

Gulf Fritillary Butterfly

click for details

Gulf Fritillary Butterfly on a Pink Zinnia in East Texas - October 17, 2016

Variegated Fritillary

click for details

Variegated Fritillary Butterfly

Mormon Fritillary

click for details

Mormon Fritillary Butterfly

Great Spangled Fritillary

click for details

Great Spangled Fritillary

Zerene Fritillary

click for details

Zerene Fritillary

Diana Fritillary

click for details

Male Diana Fritillary Butterfly

Great Basin Fritillary

click for details

Great Basin Fritillary

Nokomis Fritillary (male)

click for details

Male Nokomis Fritillary

Nokomis Fritillary (female)

click for details

Female Nokomis Fritillary

Purplish Fritillary

Purplish Fritillary

Aphrodite Fritillary

Aphrodite Fritillary

Mexican Fritillary

Mexican Fritillary

Edwards Fritillary

Edwards Fritillary

Pacific Fritillary

Pacific Fritillary

Silver-bordered Fritillary

Silver-bordered Fritillary
click to visit the Butterfly Store ... books, cages, nets, calendars, flags and more!