Silver-washed Fritillary

• Latin name: Argynnis paphia
• Family group: Fritillaries, Duke of Burgundy
• Countries: England, Wales, Ireland
• Size: Large

Resident

Decline and slight re-expansion of range.

The swooping flight of this large and graceful butterfly is one of the most beautiful sights to be found in woodland during high summer. It is named after the silver streaks on the underside which can be viewed as it stops to feed on flowers such as Bramble.

Although the butterfly is seen mostly in sunny glades and rides, it actually breeds in the shadier parts of adjacent woodland. In southern England, a small proportion of females have wings that are bronze-green, known as the form valezina.

The Silver-washed Fritillary declined during the twentieth century, especially in England and Wales, but has spread noticeably during recent decades.

Conservation status

• UK BAP status: Not listed
• Butterfly Conservation priority: low
• European threat status: not threatened

European/world range

Across Europe, to 62B:N in Sweden and throughout the Mediterranean to North Africa, and eastwards across to China and Japan. Declining in several European countries but spreading northwards in Sweden and Finland.

Foodplants

The main foodplant is Common Dog-violet (Viola riviniana) growing in shady or semi-shady positions on the woodland floor.

Habitat

The butterfly breeds in broad-leaved woodland, especially oak woodland or woods with sunny rides and glades. It occasionally uses mixed broad-leaved and conifer plantations and, in parts of south-west England and Ireland, also breeds in wooded hedgerows and sheltered lanes near to woods.