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 193 - 216 of 540 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 31, 2017
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Nov 15, 2017
Observation date: Jul 16, 2017
Submitted by: Eric Olson
Region: Gilpin County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Oct 28, 2017
Observation date: Jul 30, 2017
Submitted by: carlakish
Region: Gila County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Oct 09, 2017
Observation date: Jul 19, 2017
Submitted by: Steve Easter
Region: Alberta, Canada
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Sep 22, 2017
Observation date: Jul 20, 2017
Submitted by: RobertWeeden
Region: Fairbanks North Star, Alaska, United States
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Sep 22, 2017
Observation date: Aug 19, 2017
Submitted by: rgreimel
Region: Teton County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Sep 19, 2017
Observation date: Sep 01, 2017
Submitted by: satchmo0802
Region: Crook County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Sep 14, 2017
Observation date: Jun 27, 2017
Submitted by: JulieLuetzelschwab
Region: San Miguel County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 09, 2017
Observation date: Jun 28, 2017
Submitted by: rhedden
Region: Otero County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 09, 2017
Observation date: Jul 03, 2017
Submitted by: john_p
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 07, 2017
Observation date: Jul 15, 2017
Submitted by: dtbirder_99
Region: Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 07, 2017
Observation date: Aug 02, 2017
Submitted by: jjweber
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 05, 2017
Observation date: Aug 04, 2017
Submitted by: jjweber
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 05, 2017
Observation date: Aug 01, 2017
Submitted by: jjweber
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 05, 2017
Observation date: Jun 06, 2017
Submitted by: stevarenob
Region: Gila County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Jun 18, 2017
Observation date: Jul 04, 2016
Submitted by: J_Martineau
Region: Sublette County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jan 19, 2017
Observation date: Jun 16, 2016
Submitted by: J_Martineau
Region: Weston County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jan 10, 2017
Observation date: Jul 01, 2015
Submitted by: MTmariposa
Region: Missoula County, Montana, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Sep 20, 2016
Observation date: Jul 01, 2015
Submitted by: gjyanicki
Region: Glacier County, Montana, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Sep 20, 2016
Observation date: Jul 26, 2016
Submitted by: Geoff Urwin
Region: Saskatchewan, Canada
Verified by: alchem30
Verified date: Aug 03, 2016
Observation date: Aug 11, 2012
Submitted by: COA1955
Region: Clear Creek County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: May 22, 2016
Observation date: Jul 23, 2015
Submitted by: bobscafe
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: May 13, 2016
Observation date: Aug 01, 2015
Submitted by: bobscafe
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Apr 25, 2016
Observation date: Jul 23, 2015
Submitted by: bobscafe
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Feb 11, 2016
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