Observation date: August 04, 2019
Submitted by: Thomlinson
Specimen type: Photograph
Observation notes: There were many actively nectaring in all open spaces along the lower parts of the trail system, mainly on purple asters and Monarda. It is almost certain that the photos are of different individuals.
Status: Resident
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: October 05, 2019
Coordinator notes: Note by Austin Baldini: Your first photo here actually shows an Aphrodite Fritillary (Speyeria aphrodite); the brown eyes distinguish it from all the other common Speyeria sp. in eastern Colorado. Note by Mike Fisher: I agree with Austin in that your first photo is S. Aphrodite (a female). The other photos are all S. hesperis. You should not confuse the Atlantis Fritillary with hesperis in eastern Colorado because hesperis does not have fully silvered spots on the ventral hindwings (sometimes they are slightly silvered but usually have no reflectance). Atlantis always has silver spots and it is on a definitely chocolate-brown (or blackish) disc color, not reddish like both hesperis and Aphrodite. Atlantis is more locally found along stream sides and forest (more moist habitat). In western Colorado, S. hesperis has silver spots (rarely without silver) but the disc color remains definitely reddish, not darker like atlantis (atlantis is more common in the mountain west of the Continental Divide at 9000-10000 ft. Mike
