Observation date: June 09, 2023
Submitted by: Lyle R
Specimen type: Photograph
Observation notes: On the ground of Bear Creek Trail
Status: Resident
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: July 02, 2023
Coordinator notes: Your suggested ID Northwestern Fritillary: Does not have heavy enough black markings on the wings or darker scaled wing bases to be hesperis (and it is a little early for it to be out); cannot be the Aphrodite because the eyes are blue-gray (they are brown on aphrodite); cannot be Edwards' because the forewing wing-edge margins are not solidly black (or mostly so); and not callippe because the markings are also not dark and thick enough on the upper wings (has green hindwing discs on the underside). That leaves coronis the only other choice of species that would be flying in early June in the Front Range (and it is actually early for the latter three this year because of the cool, wet spring weather). Mike
