Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary

• Latin name: Boloria selene
• Family group: Fritillaries, Duke of Burgundy
• Countries: England, Scotland, Wales
• Size: Medium

Resident

Range declining in England.

This fritillary is similar in size and habits to the Pearl-bordered Fritillary but is more widespread and occurs in damper, grassy habitats as well as woodland clearings and moorland.

The adults fly close to the ground, stopping frequently to take nectar from flowers such as Bramble and thistles. It can be identified from the more numerous whitish pearls on the underside hind wings, the outer ones bordered by black chevrons, and from the larger black central dot.

The butterfly remains widespread and locally abundant in Scotland and Wales, but has undergone a severe decline in England.

Conservation status

• UK BAP status: Priority Species
• Butterfly Conservation priority: high
• European threat status: not threatened

European/world range

Widespread across central and northern Europe and through Asia to Korea. Also occurs in North America. Range appears stable through much of Europe but declines have been reported in at least nine countries.

Foodplants

The most widely used foodplants are Common Dog-violet (Viola riviniana) and Marsh Violet (V. palustris). It may occasionally feed on other violet species.

Habitat

There are four main habitats: woodland glades and clearings (mainly in southern Britain); damp grassland and moorland (in western and northern Britain); grassland with bracken and/or patches of scrub; and open wood-pasture and wood edges in Scotland, usually where there is some grazing by deer and/or sheep.

Other habitats used include dune slacks and coastal cliffs. In all habitats it breeds in damp, grassy vegetation where there is abundant foodplant growing in a fairly lush sward.