Northwestern Fritillary
Speyeria hesperis (W.H. Edwards, 1864)
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Heliconiinae
Identification: Quite variable. Upperside orange-brown, often darker at base, with black outer margins especially on forewing; male has black scales on veins. Underside of hindwing with basal disk or light brown orange-brown with pale submarginal band; spots silvered or unsilvered.
Wing Span: 2 - 2 3/4 inches (5 - 7 cm).
Life History: Males patrol during the day in open areas. Eggs are laid singly on leaf litter near host plant. Unfed first-stage caterpillars overwinter, emerging in spring to feed on leaves.
Flight: One flight from June-October, mainly July-August.
Caterpillar Hosts: Violets.
Adult Food: Flower nectar including Gaillardia, rabbitbrush, purple mints, and shrub cinquefoil.
Habitat: Forest openings, meadows, and open hillsides.
Range: Western mountains from central western Alaska, Yukon, and Northwest Territories south to central California, Arizona, and New Mexico.
Conservation: Not usually of conservation concern. Subspecies elko Austin and hanseni Emmel and Emmel are of conservation concern because of their small ranges. The former may be threatened by invasive alien weeds including smooth brome and/or cheatgrass.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 535 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 30, 2025
Submitted by: bonfrey
Region: Taos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Oct 11, 2025
Observation date: Aug 23, 2025
Submitted by: bonfrey
Region: Torrance County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 26, 2025
Observation date: Aug 17, 2025
Submitted by: deftones
Region: Larimer County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Aug 24, 2025
Observation date: Aug 10, 2025
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Aug 17, 2025
Observation date: Jul 13, 2025
Submitted by: CheddahCurt
Region: Alberta, Canada
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jul 15, 2025
Observation date: Jul 03, 2025
Submitted by: blgreco
Region: Archuleta County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jul 06, 2025
Observation date: Aug 12, 2019
Submitted by: Liz Osborn
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 12, 2025
Observation date: Aug 12, 2022
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 07, 2025
Observation date: Jul 01, 2012
Submitted by: RobSimpson
Region: Teton County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Apr 15, 2025
Observation date: Jun 30, 2012
Submitted by: RobSimpson
Region: Park County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Mar 20, 2025
Observation date: Aug 13, 1981
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Otero County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Mar 13, 2025
Observation date: Jul 05, 1981
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Lincoln County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Mar 11, 2025
Observation date: Jun 25, 2024
Submitted by: Joshua C
Region: Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Feb 28, 2025
Observation date: Jun 15, 2024
Submitted by: Joshua C
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Feb 19, 2025
Observation date: Aug 28, 2021
Submitted by: dvollmar
Region: San Miguel County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Oct 07, 2024
Observation date: Aug 30, 2024
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Oct 01, 2024
Observation date: Jul 31, 2024
Submitted by: sandyleapt
Region: Benton County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 16, 2024
Observation date: Aug 10, 2024
Submitted by: Buddy Mays
Region: Linn County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 13, 2024
Observation date: Jul 20, 2024
Submitted by: bonfrey
Region: Sandoval County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 12, 2024
Observation date: Jul 25, 2024
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Pennington County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Jul 31, 2024
Observation date: Jul 25, 2024
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Pennington County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Jul 31, 2024
Observation date: Jul 25, 2024
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Pennington County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Jul 31, 2024
Observation date: Jul 25, 2024
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Pennington County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Jul 31, 2024
Observation date: Jul 25, 2024
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Pennington County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Jul 31, 2024
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