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.
Please donate!
We depend on donations to keep Butterflies and Moths of North America freely available. We want to express our gratitude to all who showed their support by making a contribution this year. You can donate to support this project at any time.
Advertise with us!
Do you have a product or service that you think would interest BAMONA users? If you would like to advertise on this website, contact us by email, or use the contact form and select the "Advertising" category.
Verified Sightings
Displaying 217 - 240 of 540 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 23, 2015
Submitted by: bobscafe
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Feb 11, 2016
Observation date: Jul 19, 2015
Submitted by: bobscafe
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Oct 20, 2015
Observation date: Jul 21, 2013
Submitted by: chreliot
Region: Powell County, Montana, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Jul 27, 2015
Observation date: Jul 16, 2015
Submitted by: plex1ppus
Region: Bonner County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Jul 27, 2015
Observation date: Jul 05, 2007
Submitted by: J_Martineau
Region: Crook County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Mar 05, 2015
Observation date: Aug 02, 2014
Submitted by: Sue Orlowski
Region: Spokane County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 12, 2014
Observation date: Jul 07, 2014
Submitted by: bwilliams
Region: Ravalli County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 29, 2014
Observation date: Jun 24, 2014
Submitted by: Randy Floyd
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 06, 2014
Observation date: Sep 21, 2013
Submitted by: Frederike Hofstra
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jun 22, 2014
Observation date: Aug 13, 2013
Submitted by: rjboehnke
Region: Teller County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jun 22, 2014
Observation date: Jul 20, 2007
Submitted by: corey.husic
Region: Teton County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Mar 04, 2014
Observation date: Aug 10, 2013
Submitted by: cliffweisse
Region: Fremont County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Dec 28, 2013
Observation date: Jul 20, 2012
Submitted by: jfmorgan
Region: Coconino County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Nov 04, 2013
Observation date: Aug 03, 2013
Submitted by: J Tinsman
Region: Iron County, Utah, United States
Verified by: RaisingButterfl...
Verified date: Oct 26, 2013
Observation date: Aug 21, 2013
Submitted by: sagebird52
Region: Albany County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Aug 27, 2013
Observation date: Jul 03, 2013
Submitted by: John Ashley
Region: Flathead County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Aug 23, 2013
Observation date: Jul 20, 2013
Submitted by: plex1ppus
Region: Missoula County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Aug 12, 2013
Observation date: Jul 30, 1987
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (William S. Swisher)
Region: Coconino County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Jul 10, 1982
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (K Hansen-S. Mattoon)
Region: Elko County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Jul 07, 1997
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (C. Bordelon & E. Knudson)
Region: Graham County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Jul 14, 1989
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (George T. Austin)
Region: Elko County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Jul 23, 1987
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Clifford D. Ferris)
Region: Graham County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Jul 11, 1982
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (K Hansen-S. Mattoon)
Region: Elko County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Aug 06, 1985
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Clifford D. Ferris)
Region: Apache County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
- ‹ previous
- 10 of 23
- next ›