regal fritillary

(Argynnis idalia)

Conservation Status
IUCN Red List

not listed

NatureServe

N3 - Vulnerable

S3 - Vulnerable

Federal

On August 5, 2024, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) proposed listing the eastern regal fritillary (Glynnis Idalia Idalia) as an endangered species and the western regal fritillary (A. i. occidentals) as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973.

Minnesota

Special Concern

Species in Greatest Conservation Need

 
regal fritillary
Photo by Dan W. Andree
 
Description

 

 

Size

2 to 4 wingspan

 

Similar Species

 
Habitat

Tall grass prairie, wet fields, meadows, marshes.

Biology

Season

One brood: mid-June to early September.

 

Behavior

 

 

Life Cycle

 

 

Larva Hosts

In Minnesota, mostly prairie violet (Viola pedatifida var. pedatifida), but also birdfoot violet (Viola pedata) and possibly northern bog violet is (Viola nephrophylla).

 

Adult Food

Nectar from flowers of milkweed, thistle, red clover, and mountain mint.

Distribution

Distribution Map

 

Sources

6, 7, 20, 21, 24, 29, 30, 71, 75, 82.

8/5/2022    
     

Occurrence

Uncommon

Taxonomy

Order

Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths)

Superfamily

Papilionoidea (butterflies)

Family

Nymphalidae (brush-footed butterflies)

Subfamily

Heliconiinae (fritillaries and longwings)

Tribe

Argynnini (fritillaries)
Subtribe Argynnina

Genus

Argynnis (greater firtillaries)
Subgenus Speyeria
   

A recent analysis of the tribe Argynnini (Simonsen et al., 2006), based on previously published morphological and new mitochondrial DNA data, resulted in a reclassification of the entire tribe. The study found no reason to split the “larger fritillaries” into a large number of genera, and proposed uniting them all in the genus Argynnis. The genus Speyeria is therefore included as a subgenus. A later study of mostly North American butterflies (Zhang, et al., 2020), based on genomic sequencing, supported moving Speyeria to a subgenus of Argynnis. The move has not been universally accepted. Zhang suggests that the reasons are historic, not scientific.

Several generations of American naturalists were raised being accustomed to the name Speyeria and are less familiar with the name Argynnis, thus being resistant to abandoning Speyeria as a genus name.

   

Subordinate Taxa

A recent journal article (Williams, B.E., 2002) presented evidence that the eastern population of regal fritillary is morphologically and genetically distinct from the western population. The eastern population has different wing markings and and is found in “damp to marshy, often stream-side, habitats.” The western population is found in prairies. The author recommended recognizing the two populations as distinct subspecies. The recommendation was not universally accepted. ITIS, NCBI, and NatureServe recognize the subspecies, GBIF does not.

esstern regal fritillary (Speyeria idalia idalia)

western regal fritillary (Speyeria idalia occidentalis)

   

Synonyms

Speyeria idalia

   

Common Names

regal fritillary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Dan W. Andree

regal fritillary    

Even though I couldn't get an open shot...

or image she was a beautiful butterfly anyway. Lady Regal is a lovely creature... From back in July 2024 a prairie preserve in Norman Co. Mn.

   
     

Female Regal Fritillary...

A real pretty one back in July 2024. I usually didn’t come across any female regals until around mid August or so, but this season I seen a few during July. After that I didn’t come across any. Early in their short lives they are quite beautiful. This female has a whitish ring around her abdomen. By the end of summer she would have been all faded with wings worn and torn after laying around 2,000 eggs walking through the prairie vegetation. I never see many regals, but if I see one I do take it serious to try observe and possibly capture its image without stressing it. In case I never encounter one again. They are struggling.

  regal fritillary

This female was behind the grasses as you can see and by the time I slowly worked my way for an open view of her she had her wings closed tight and remained that way. I observed her for a few minutes or so as she remained fairly motionless. Then without warning she just flew off over some wolf berry shrubs and onward over the prairie.

I didn’t try follow or find her. She had a big job ahead of her…laying those 2,000 eggs or so.

     

Regal Fritillary...

A male Regal Fritillary on Flodman’s Thistle. Seen it on July 10, 2024. Beautiful butterfly. Hopefully more conservation programs will become available to help with the declining number. I never see many of them on any given year since I first noticed a regal fritillary between 5-6 yrs. ago but they declined in number in the few areas I seen any. The male regals life is pretty much done.

  regal fritillary

Hadn’t seen any so imagine the few that were around have died off as it is that time of year for the male. Females haven’t seen any lately but haven’t been out much since the weather has been wet. I seen a few earlier in August but only a few. They gestate so to speak and need cover and rest etc. developing all the eggs. That is why they aren’t seen as much as some other species of butterflies.

     

Regal Fritillary Flashing Blue...

I was filming this female regal that was resting down in the prairie vegetation. She had her wings closed tight while filming so after a while I quit recording as not to get a real long video of her just resting with wings closed. I briefly looked away and glanced around the area of the prairie then looked back down and seen flashes of a somewhat iridescent deep blue.

For a split second I wasn’t sure what was going on, but I quick hit the record button and caught the last flash of blue. For some reason just did a couple of quick wing flashes then tightly closed her wings again. I couldn’t get an open shot due to grass in the way and it would have startled her if I moved around to much. But realistically there is often vegetation in the way often.

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Regal Fritillary...

This 2024 season male regal numbers are down from last season in an area I usually see some. I’m not sure about females yet as they tend to remain in the dense vegetation until a little closer to the egg laying period which isn’t too far away really. I had seen a couple females back in July toward the last week but none since though I haven’t been out for about a week or so.

Also Jessica Peterson informed me the regals have been proposed for federal listing as threatened. So perhaps we will see some conservation actions directed at regals in the near future. I think that would be a good thing.

This female was down in some dense vegetation at a SNA in my area. I caught a little of her bluish sheen on the one wing. The light has to catch the wing areas just right for it to show. Early in their lives regals are a beautiful and a true native prairie butterfly. Real interesting species too.

  regal fritillary
     

Can You See Me?...

Can You See Me Now? 👀 A female Regal Fritillary down in the prairie grasses 7-28-23 Preserve in Norman Co. Mn. They are definitely a true native prairie butterfly living their entire lives there.

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Monarch & Regal...

These two regal are from last July 2023. At a Prairie Preserve in Norman Co. Mn. I’m sending it in a small size and anyone interested in a larger size can contact me. AI is causing issues for both Artists and Photographers. There have been cases of people using other peoples paintings and photos to capture their style in AI and of course they can reproduce it pretty accurately. It’s pretty sad in a way a person does all the work to get the images and AI can be used without some even knowing and their work reproduced and who knows what they do with it.

But anyway they really need to get on top of the AI it can be really useful in many situations but also used negatively by some. I read an online article how some artists and photographers are really frustrated and upset with people downloading images and basically training AI to imitate the artist and photographers work styles. They can also use AI imitating and pretty much duplicating another persons voice. Kind a scary and l’m sure scammers will be using AI in their scams more and more.

  regal fritillary

But anyway life goes on. I sent this image to the MN DNR rare species site with some info.

     

Monarch & Regal...

I just put this photo write-up together. I felt since many are familiar with the monarch showing a monarch with a regal fritillary may get more people familiar with that species too. They are a couple of butterflies I seen on one of my outdoor adventures in Norman Co. Mn.

  monarch

I may put together a video in the future with both the monarch and regal fritillary butterflies in the same video. Since regals pretty much remain on prairies they are seen much less than the monarchs which can be found in a variety of areas. But the regal fritillary is quite beautiful particularly early in its life. They do get really tough looking and almost unrecognizable near the end of their life. But they certainly are worthy of preservation just like the monarch.

     

Male Regal Fritillary...

I put together a couple images of a male regal fritillary I came across last July 8, 2023 at a prairie preserve in Norman Co. Mn. Only regal I had ever seen feed on Wolfberry. But it fed on the blossoms for over a minute at around 9:58 am. that morning. Beautiful butterfly.

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Male Regal...

I seen this male regal early July 2023. You can see a little dark blue sheen on its one lower wing. It at a Prairie Preserve in Norman co. Mn.

Interesting too it has its proboscis curled up and can see it from this angle.

  regal fritillary
     

Female Regal Fritillary...Prairie Preserve Norman Co. Mn.

She was feeding on thistle which seems to be a favorite of the regal fritillary of the ones I have come across. I never see large numbers of this butterfly.

A couple here or there but that’s about it. It’s easier to find monarchs which are more abundant than the regal fritillary on the prairie preserves I’ve visited.

I really like the red orange color and wing markings and she was good sized. At times she was walking through the grasses depositing eggs here and there.

Lady Regal is a lovely creature.

  regal fritillary
     

Female Regal Fritillary 7-20-23...

She was taking a brief rest down in the prairie grasses on a prairie preserve in Norman Co. Mn.

You can see a little of that dark bluish sheen on the one lower wing area. I’ve seen both sides and outer upper wing edges in certain lighting show that blue sheen, but haven’t been able to capture it fully to do it any justice really but you can get an idea if you use your imagination a little. Beautiful and good sized she was.

  regal fritillary
     

Male Regal...

I sighted this male Regal Fritillary July 10, 2023 while out on a prairie preserve in Norman Co. Mn. It was rather breezy and the wind blew grasses back and forth but I managed to capture some imagery of it.

It seemed perfectly healthy looking and was probably briefly resting after almost constant flying back and forth over the prairie looking for females. This male too was good sized for a male regal.

Beautiful color and markings etc. on him at that time.

  regal fritillary
     

Male Regal...

This is that same male regal fritillary that was feeding on wolf berry and looked golden from certain angles I previously sent. It rotated around and from this angle the orange looks more orange than golden. I took the video clip and made a still image from this angle.

  regal fritillary

Interesting how morning sunlight etc. plays on colors in nature etc. 7-8-23 a Prairie Preserve in Norman Co. Mn.

The male regal fed for maybe a couple minutes in that one spot and the winds were light to almost calm. It looked really healthy.

     

Also sighted a female regal fritillary 7-20-23…also on a prairie preserve in Norman Co. Mn.

  regal fritillary
     
regal fritillary   regal fritillary

Observed a male regal fritillary feeding on wolf berry blossoms. I had never seen a regal feed on this type of flowers. It was in the morning 7-10-23 and the angle of the sun made the regal look almost golden.

 

It fed for quite a while on thee wolf berry.

     
regal fritillary   regal fritillary

Male Regal Fritillary...

I seen him out on a Prairie in Mn. July 1, 2023. He was really healthy looking and he came flying toward me rather fast from a good distance before flying past me and landing down in on the prairie. I slowly went to see if I could find where he landed and did. He seemed to just want to rest so I watched him a little while then backed away not to disturb him.

  This is what that regal looked like with wings part open viewed...
     

Female Regal...

Same area same regal. I got a photo of another female but it isn’t the best just good enough for me to identify it was a different female similar in size to this one.

The 3rd female was way far away from these two and smaller. She flew right below me unexpectedly. I didn’t even see her until she was about 3 ft. away from me and below. A wind gust came up and as I was getting the camera up she somehow vanished. So didn’t get any photo of that one. But she was a bit smaller.

The two larger similar sized ones were nearing the size of a smaller monarch.

  regal fritillary
     

Female Regal Fritillary...

I finally seen a couple females at Frenchman’s Bluff SNA. There were many monarchs but only a couple regals. I don’t know if you post where they are located since they are a vulnerable species.

Anyway she was faded a bit and had a chunk torn out of one of her lower wings but seemed overall in good health for this late in Summer. Guessing she was in the egg laying time of her life. So I was glad to see they didn’t go entirely extinct from the previous 2021 season of extreme heat and drought conditions. The prairies are in good condition with a lot of flowers in bloom right now. Had rain recently so growth is good. Seen this female regal 8-25-22.

  regal fritillary
     

Male Regal...

A rarer sight compared to even the Monarch’s. Seen this male which stopped briefly to feed before flying off again patrolling the prairie for a female. Regals are a true native to the Tallgrass Prairies. They are born there, live a short life and pretty much die there. A lot harder to find than some of the other species. I always consider any a rare find and one of beauty.

  regal fritillary
     
regal fritillary   regal fritillary

Male Regal Fritillary down in the grass...

It was a hard angle to try capture this male regal fritillary. It kind of crawled around and paused. A breeze blowing grasses made it difficult to get a clear shot but it was a beautiful butterfly and is also a species of special concern here in Minnesota. The colors made me think of golden tiger orange and a midnight blue on its lower wing areas in sunlight. This was about as good a photos I could get without scaring it.

     
regal fritillary    

From open to closed wings...

from late June to first couple days of July 2021

   
     
regal fritillary   regal fritillary

Recently emerged male regal...

This male regal landed on a prairie plant and almost looked like it was floating in air. A male that just recently emerged I encountered earlier this 2021 season. I filmed it and the breeze moved its wings on and off while it remained perched. I cropped a 4k frame grab to get the photos. I’m sure by now this male has faded some and probably has worn torn wings which happens once they patrol the prairies in a hurry to find a mate during their very short lives. The wind, heat, smoke from forest fires and this seasons drought conditions as well as predators can have an adverse effect on butterflies etc. Particularly on species of special concern like regals which are not as common or abundant as some other species.

     
regal fritillary    

Wings open...

Male Regal Fritillary early July 2021. A second male is behind this one barely noticeable. Beautiful wing patterns and color.

   
     

Male Regal showing a little blue....

This male regal fritillary was just resting on the prairie grasses and noticed it was showing a little of that iridescent blue that occurs when the lighting hits the lower wing areas just right. Most noticeable on the right side.

Seemed like that area hit the light source more for it to show. Hopefully we can continue to keep this “Species of Special Concern” in Mn. There seems to be many programs, people or groups working to help out with “Saving the Monarch” and I think that is wonderful and they should keep doing it, but not that many promoting the survival of the Regal Fritillary. Probably because they are so less known to people.

  regal fritillary

They do not show up in as many types of places like the Monarch so it makes sense they are much less known about. I found them to be quite beautiful in the early part of their short lives and feel they should be monitored closely so they do not end up extinct like in a lot of their former ranges. Feel real fortunate to find one to film etc.

     

Male Regal Fritillary butterfly wings closed...

This male regal fritillary did open and close its wings while filming it but thought I’d send one with the wings closed. Filmed it on a nice early July 2021 day which was before the smoke haze rolled in.

I did see a female regal fritillary recently I went out one early evening after work but I didn’t see it until it flew up and down wind out of view. Seen one too on feeding a prairie flower but couldn’t get set up in time to film her. The female regal is really nice too. May go out tomorrow morning the smoke haze is suppose to be less. So will see what tomorrow brings.

  regal fritillary
     

Bee/wasp attacking Regal's...

It tried a couple times then dive bombed and struck the male regal on the right hitting that regals body part and the regal took off and so did the other one. The bee or wasp photo where it is by itself just circled looking down at the thistle and flew off.

Regals are really beautiful early in their short lives. These are really small 4k frame grabs.

  regal fritillary
     
regal fritillary   regal fritillary
     
regal fritillary   regal fritillary

Wings wide spread....

The lighting was harsh and the temperatures warm during the morning of July 4, 2021 but the the male regal was beautiful to say the least despite the conditions. One cannot pick the type of day, lighting etc. often in certain situations in nature. This is a 4k frame grab. I always see so many more monarchs when out and about in nature than regals.

 

Male Regal Fritillary...

I cropped a 4k frame grab. Only seen this one single one. Beautiful butterfly.

     

Female Regal Fritillary down in the grass...

While I was filming her she crawled way down into the grass and out of site. I just left her be after that. Early Summer 2020 at a Prairie Preserve in Minnesota. Only seen a couple female Regals the whole 2020 season. There were times at the same preserve I didn’t see any.

  regal fritillary
     
regal fritillary   regal fritillary

Female Regal Fritillary Butterfly....

I recently filmed and photographed this female Regal Fritillary on a prairie in Minnesota. I believe she had just recently emerged and her color was beautiful.

     
regal fritillary   regal fritillary

“Regal Frtitllary Butterflies”

   
     
regal fritillary   regal fritillary

Regal Fritillary Bluish Sheen on lower wing -male

It shows the bluish sheen on the one wing that is in sunlight.

 

Female Regal Fritillary & Goldenrod Soldier Beetle....

...on a Thistle flower. Seen a lot of the Goldenrod Soldier Beetles but very few female Regal’s. Male Regal’s had pretty much died off. Noticed Monarch’s were fairly abundant throughout the preserve.

     

On a Prairie Preserve in Minnesota...

Regal Fritillary mating SNA in Mn. Really interesting wing patterns on Regals. Also that bluish sheen they can have in certain lighting on the lower wing areas is pretty cool as well. I feel fortunate to have come across the Regal and have gained a lot of respect and admiration for these butterflies.

  regal fritillary
     

Interesting colored male ....

Regal Fritillary. This season the first I seen of any Regal Fritillary butterflies was early July. This image is from over a week later and not sure the exact date this male first emerged. Male Regal’s in particular fade in color with time. It doesn’t take that long of time either. I noticed earlier in July the males were more reddish orange with some not as reddish tinted as others. They almost glowed. Then they constantly seemed to patrol the prairie hovering above the prairie grasses etc. searching for any females that may have emerged.

  regal fritillary

This male has started fading but had an interesting color tint before it would eventually fade to a dull varying grayish tan brown mix with shredded wings etc. Such short lives they live and how different they look from when they first emerge to when nearing the end of the Regal’s short life. The female Regal tends to live longer into the season due to laying her eggs. Both male and female Regal Fritillary are beautiful when in their prime of life. Certainly deserve preservation.

     

Male and Female Regal Fritillary...

I was real fortunate to capture the male regal after it recently emerged and feeding. Otherwise they seemed to just fly up and down the prairie areas looking for any emerged females. Hard to photograph or film then. Once in a while they land and either feed or rest but when they decide to do that is very unpredictable. Then the males go right back to looking for the female Regal. Also right now the majority of the males have faded with some shredded wings and nearing the end of their life. Stunning butterflies especially when they are just recently emerged and in the early stage of their very short lives. These were at a SNA in Minnesota. Seen more male Regal’s not that they were overly abundant or anything and only seen a couple female and at times none.

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  regal fritillary
     

Mating Regal Fritillary.....

I was fortunate to come across a pair mating. I didn’t disturb them and they mainly sat stationary moving around slightly and once in a while opening and closing their wings. I filmed and photographed them since I am working on another regal fritillary video segment. I do not try to disturb anything in nature that I attempt to photograph or film. I figure most things in nature have enough struggles and disturbances in their lives.

  regal fritillary

I will admit sometimes when walking through grasslands some insects, butterflies and even some birds can go unseen until you accidentally startled them to fly off or come into view. The mating regals were still in the same spot that day when I quietly and slowly backed away from them and left their area.

Regals are absolutely beautiful when they just emerge.

  regal fritillary
     
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Regal Fritillary & Monarch together...

Not the best lighting etc. for photography but one cannot pick the time or type of day when nature shows up. Kind of rare to see a Regal Fritillary and Monarch close enough to get them together in a photo. Aug. 2019 was the first time I ever seen a Regal Fritillary in my life. But both are beautiful butterflies, though I seen quite a few more Monarch’s than Regal Fritillary’s. Taken Aug. 16, 2019 at a Prairie Preserve in Norman county, Mn

 

Regal Fritillary...

The female was just taking flight. A “species of special concern” here in Minnesota. I found them to be a really interesting butterfly adding diversity and beauty to prairie areas. A Goldenrod Soldier beetle can also been seen on the flower. Seen many of them this past season. I came across this female Regal Fritillary during the second half of the month of August 2019 on a prairie in rural Norman Co. Mn.

     
regal fritillary

 

  regal fritillary
 

Regal Fritillary female on...

Prairie Blazing Star flower. Filmed her too. Only seen 2 females and 1 male. The male just kept flying and wouldn’t land long enough. I did get a brief close look at the male and it was pretty nice compared to some scruffy ones I seen some weeks back.

Regal Fritillary - female

 

 

 

 

 

Dave Jungst

regal fritillary   regal fritillary

video still of egg laying

 

 

 

a pair of mating Regal Fritillary butterflies

     
regal fritillary    

Female, Sept. 18, 2014

   
     
regal fritillary   regal fritillary

Female, Sept. 10, 2013

   

Nancy Falkum

rough blazing star

Blazing Star, Rough w/Regal Fritillary

Laura Baxley

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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
regal fritillary   regal fritillary
     
regal fritillary    

 

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Dan W. Andree

"Regal Fritillary Butterflies" 2023
Nov 2, 2023

About

Filmed at a prairie preserve in early to mid Summer of 2023. A "Species of Special Concern in Mn". I don't ever see very many of them and if I do come across any I tend to take some time to observe and film them if possible. They are beautiful butterflies early on in their short lives. Some of the females tend to be a little more reddish orange than some males and are a little larger than a male. I thought it was beautiful watching how she moved around feeding etc.

 

"Regal Fritillary Butterfly" Male & Female Early Summer 2020
Feb 1, 2021

About

Filmed at a Scientific and Natural Area during the early Summer of 2020. A vulnerable species, declining in some areas and gone extinct in much of its former range. There is informative text at the beginning of the video followed by up close images of both male and female. Relaxing background music added. I was fortunate to come across the regals early in their short lives. They are quite interesting and colorful but can fade and get damaged wings in a matter of a few weeks particularly the males that seem to almost constantly patrol the prairie looking for females. Their lifespan is short and they have no time to waste. ...Hope you enjoy this.

 

"The Regal Fritillary Butterfly" filmed by Dan W Andree 2019
Dec 24, 2019

About

A short video I put together after encountering the Regal Fritillary butterfly for the first time late summer 2019. From mid August to Sept. 1st. The video shows all female regals because that time of the year most males have died off or close to it, I read. I am no expert on this butterfly but did develop a soft spot for them. They seem to be struggling in areas. Perhaps next season I will do a revised version of this video and add the male and female in the earlier stage of their lives. But next season is a ways away so will just upload this short version. Hope you enjoy it.

Other Videos

Regal Fritillary
pengelhard1

About

Uploaded on Dec 7, 2011

No description available.

Regal Fritillary Butterfly lives in military impact area
Bob Smith

About

Uploaded on Mar 1, 2011

This rare insect lives at Fort Indiantown Gap, in central Pennsylvania, right in the middle of training areas. How does this work? Well, it does. I did this piece for National Guard Bureau Public affairs.

Regal Fritillaries at Maxwell WA
kdwpinfo

About

Uploaded on Jun 24, 2010

Abundant regal fritillary butterflies show that the prairie habitat is in great shape at Maxwell Game Refuge near Canton. Visit KDWP wildlife areas for the best of the Kansas outdoors.

 

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Dan W. Andree
July 2024

Location: Norman Co., Mn.

A real pretty one back in July 2024. I usually didn’t come across any female regals until around mid August or so, but this season I seen a few during July. After that I didn’t come across any. Early in their short lives they are quite beautiful. This female has a whitish ring around her abdomen. By the end of summer she would have been all faded with wings worn and torn after laying around 2,000 eggs walking through the prairie vegetation. I never see many regals, but if I see one I do take it serious to try observe and possibly capture its image without stressing it. In case I never encounter one again. They are struggling.

regal fritillary

 

This female was behind the grasses as you can see and by the time I slowly worked my way for an open view of her she had her wings closed tight and remained that way. I observed her for a few minutes or so as she remained fairly motionless. Then without warning she just flew off over some wolf berry shrubs and onward over the prairie.

I didn’t try follow or find her. She had a big job ahead of her…laying those 2,000 eggs or so.

Dan W. Andree
7/23/2024

Location: Norman Co., Mn.

This 2024 season male regal numbers are down from last season in an area I usually see some. I’m not sure about females yet as they tend to remain in the dense vegetation until a little closer to the egg laying period which isn’t too far away really. I had seen a couple females back in July toward the last week but none since though I haven’t been out for about a week or so.

regal fritillary

 

Also Jessica Peterson informed me the regals have been proposed for federal listing as threatened. So perhaps we will see some conservation actions directed at regals in the near future. I think that would be a good thing.

This female was down in some dense vegetation at a SNA in my area. I caught a little of her bluish sheen on the one wing. The light has to catch the wing areas just right for it to show. Early in their lives regals are a beautiful and a true native prairie butterfly. Real interesting species too.

Dan W. Andree
7/10/2024

Location: Norman Co. Mn.

A male Regal Fritillary on Flodman’s Thistle. Seen it on July 10, 2024. Beautiful butterfly. Hopefully more conservation programs will become available to help with the declining number. I never see many of them on any given year since I first noticed a regal fritillary between 5-6 yrs. ago but they declined in number in the few areas I seen any. The male regals life is pretty much done.

regal fritillary
 

Hadn’t seen any so imagine the few that were around have died off as it is that time of year for the male. Females haven’t seen any lately but haven’t been out much since the weather has been wet. I seen a few earlier in August but only a few. They gestate so to speak and need cover and rest etc. developing all the eggs. That is why they aren’t seen as much as some other species of butterflies.

Dan W. Andree
Summer 2024

Location: Norman Co. Mn.

I was filming this female regal that was resting down in the prairie vegetation. She had her wings closed tight while filming so after a while I quit recording as not to get a real long video of her just resting with wings closed.

regal fritillary
 

I briefly looked away and glanced around the area of the prairie then looked back down and seen flashes of a somewhat iridescent deep blue. For a split second I wasn’t sure what was going on, but I quick hit the record button and caught the last flash of blue. For some reason just did a couple of quick wing flashes then tightly closed her wings again. I couldn’t get an open shot due to grass in the way and it would have startled her if I moved around to much. But realistically there is often vegetation in the way often.

Dan W. Andree
8/23/2023

Location: Norman Co., Mn.

These two regal are from last July 2023. At a Prairie Preserve in Norman Co. Mn. I’m sending it in a small size and anyone interested in a larger size can contact me. AI is causing issues for both Artists and Photographers. There have been cases of people using other peoples paintings and photos to capture their style in AI and of course they can reproduce it pretty accurately. It’s pretty sad in a way a person does all the work to get the images and AI can be used without some even knowing and their work reproduced and who knows what they do with it.

regal fritillary

 

But anyway they really need to get on top of the AI it can be really useful in many situations but also used negatively by some. I read an online article how some artists and photographers are really frustrated and upset with people downloading images and basically training AI to imitate the artist and photographers work styles. They can also use AI imitating and pretty much duplicating another persons voice. Kind a scary and l’m sure scammers will be using AI in their scams more and more.

But anyway life goes on. I sent this image to the MN DNR rare species site with some info.

Dan W. Andree
7/28/2023

Location: Norman Co. Mn.

Can You See Me Now? 👀 A female Regal Fritillary down in the prairie grasses 7-28-23 Preserve in Norman Co. Mn. They are definitely a true native prairie butterfly living their entire lives there.

regal fritillary
Dan W. Andree
July 2023

Location: Norman Co., Mn.

She was feeding on thistle which seems to be a favorite of the regal fritillary of the ones I have come across. I never see large numbers of this butterfly.

A couple here or there but that’s about it. It’s easier to find monarchs which are more abundant than the regal fritillary on the prairie preserves I’ve visited.

regal fritillary

 

I really like the red orange color and wing markings and she was good sized. At times she was walking through the grasses depositing eggs here and there.

Lady Regal is a lovely creature.

Dan W. Andree
7/20/2023

Location: a prairie preserve in Norman Co. Mn.

Also sighted a female regal fritillary 7-20-23…also on a prairie preserve in Norman Co. Mn.

regal fritillary
Dan W. Andree
7/10/2023

Location: a prairie preserve in Norman Co. Mn.

Observed a male regal fritillary feeding on wolf berry blossoms. I had never seen a regal feed on this type of flowers. It was in the morning 7-10-23 and the angle of the sun made the regal look almost golden.

It fed for quite a while on thee wolf berry.

regal fritillary
Dan W. Andree
early July 2023

Location: Norman Co., Mn.

I seen this male regal early July 2023. You can see a little dark blue sheen on its one lower wing. It at a Prairie Preserve in Norman co. Mn.

Interesting too it has its proboscis curled up and can see it from this angle.

regal fritillary
Dan W. Andree
7/8/2023

Location: a Prairie Preserve in Norman Co. Mn.

This is that same male regal fritillary that was feeding on wolf berry and looked golden from certain angles I previously sent. It rotated around and from this angle the orange looks more orange than golden. I took the video clip and made a still image from this angle.

regal fritillary

 

Interesting how morning sunlight etc. plays on colors in nature etc. 7-8-23 a Prairie Preserve in Norman Co. Mn.

The male regal fed for maybe a couple minutes in that one spot and the winds were light to almost calm. It looked really healthy.

Dan W. Andree
7/1/2023

Location: Norman Co., Mn.

I seen him out on a Prairie in Mn. July 1, 2023. He was really healthy looking and he came flying toward me rather fast from a good distance before flying past me and landing down in on the prairie. I slowly went to see if I could find where he landed and did. He seemed to just want to rest so I watched him a little while then backed away not to disturb him.

regal fritillary

Dan W. Andree
8/25/2022

Location: Frenchman’s Bluff SNA

I finally seen a couple females at Frenchman’s Bluff SNA. There were many monarchs but only a couple regals. I don’t know if you post where they are located since they are a vulnerable species.

regal fritillary

 

Anyway she was faded a bit and had a chunk torn out of one of her lower wings but seemed overall in good health for this late in Summer. Guessing she was in the egg laying time of her life. So I was glad to see they didn’t go entirely extinct from the previous 2021 season of extreme heat and drought conditions. The prairies are in good condition with a lot of flowers in bloom right now. Had rain recently so growth is good. Seen this female regal 8-25-22.

Dan W. Andree
8/21/2022

At Frenchman’s Bluff SNA. I had no idea what it was. At first from a distance thought it might be a darker colored Variegated Fritillary but got closer to it and seen it was a butterfly I had never seen before. Its colors reminded or made me think of fall harvest decorations. Like fall color leafs and orange and brown etc. colors pumpkin colors etc. Beautiful butterfly. Also for a first time seen some Common Copper Butterflies at Twin Valley Prairie SNA. I filmed and photographed them they were little and really cute. I got some photos of that Tortoiseshell so will see how they turned out I filmed it but not sure if I got it very good. I haven’t uploaded the footage to a larger monitor. I know the Common Copper photos and video is really nice so hope some of the Milbert’s Tortoiseshell is nice to. I do think some photos will be but not so sure about the video.

Seen so many Monarch’s at both SNA’s mentioned here. I swear a couple hundred or more. They were feeding on mostly prairie blazing star flowers. I could carefully walk through areas and monarchs flew up 3-6 feet in front of me. Some just sat and fed if I was motionless. Not a very spooky butterfly. A few were still mating but most feeding. Must have been a hatch out or something. Didn’t see any regals and haven’t seen any at all at Frenchman’s this whole season but did see a few males at the other mentioned SNA which was nice to see.

Monarchs seem to be doing extremely well in the two mention SNA’s which is good but some other lesser known species not so much. Monarchs were the only species of large butterflies seen. Only seen 2 painted ladies which sometimes they can be all over the place but not a whole lot of species observed this season other than the Monarchs and happy to say lots of them. Concerning though for the other species.

… Seen the Tortoiseshell and Common Coppers yesterday mid afternoon to late afternoon.

Dan W. Andree
8/5/2022

Location: Norman Co., Mn.

A rarer sight compared to even the Monarch’s. Seen this male which stopped briefly to feed before flying off again patrolling the prairie for a female. Regals are a true native to the Tallgrass Prairies. They are born there, live a short life and pretty much die there. A lot harder to find than some of the other species. I always consider any a rare find and one of beauty.

regal fritillary

Nancy Falkum
9/18/2021 5:11 PM

Location: Kellogg Weaver Dunes SNA, Weaver Dunes Unit

rough blazing star
Dan W. Andree
7/9/2021

Location: a Prairie Preserve in Mn.

It was a hard angle to try capture this male regal fritillary. It kind of crawled around and paused. A breeze blowing grasses made it difficult to get a clear shot but it was a beautiful butterfly and is also a species of special concern here in Minnesota. The colors made me think of golden tiger orange and a midnight blue on its lower wing areas in sunlight. This was about as good a photos I could get without scaring it.

regal fritillary

Dan W. Andree
Early summer 2021

Location: Norman Co., Mn.

from late June to first couple days of July 2021

regal fritillary

Dan W. Andree
early 2021

Location: Rural Norman Co., Mn.

This male regal landed on a prairie plant and almost looked like it was floating in air. A male that just recently emerged I encountered earlier this 2021 season. I filmed it and the breeze moved its wings on and off while it remained perched. I cropped a 4k frame grab to get the photos. I’m sure by now this male has faded some and probably has worn torn wings which happens once they patrol the prairies in a hurry to find a mate during their very short lives. The wind, heat, smoke from forest fires and this seasons drought conditions as well as predators can have an adverse effect on butterflies etc. Particularly on species of special concern like regals which are not as common or abundant as some other species.

regal fritillary

Dan W. Andree
early July 2021

Location: Rural Norman Co., Mn.

Male Regal Fritillary early July 2021. A second male is behind this one barely noticeable. Beautiful wing patterns and color.

regal fritillary

Dan W. Andree
July 2021

Location: Rural Norman Co., Mn.

This male regal fritillary was just resting on the prairie grasses and noticed it was showing a little of that iridescent blue that occurs when the lighting hits the lower wing areas just right. Most noticeable on the right side.

regal fritillary

 

Seemed like that area hit the light source more for it to show. Hopefully we can continue to keep this “Species of Special Concern” in Mn. There seems to be many programs, people or groups working to help out with “Saving the Monarch” and I think that is wonderful and they should keep doing it, but not that many promoting the survival of the Regal Fritillary. Probably because they are so less known to people.

They do not show up in as many types of places like the Monarch so it makes sense they are much less known about. I found them to be quite beautiful in the early part of their short lives and feel they should be monitored closely so they do not end up extinct like in a lot of their former ranges. Feel real fortunate to find one to film etc.

For the Regal’s…

Dan 🙂

Dan W. Andree
early July 2021

Location: Rural Norman Co., Mn.

This male regal fritillary did open and close its wings while filming it but thought I’d send one with the wings closed. Filmed it on a nice early July 2021 day which was before the smoke haze rolled in.

regal fritillary

 

I did see a female regal fritillary recently I went out one early evening after work but I didn’t see it until it flew up and down wind out of view. Seen one too on feeding a prairie flower but couldn’t get set up in time to film her. The female regal is really nice too. May go out tomorrow morning the smoke haze is suppose to be less. So will see what tomorrow brings.

Dan W. Andree
7/11/2021

Location: Norman Co., Mn.

It tried a couple times then dive bombed and struck the male regal on the right hitting that regals body part and the regal took off and so did the other one. The bee or wasp photo where it is by itself just circled looking down at the thistle and flew off. Regals are really beautiful early in their short lives. These are really small 4k frame grabs.

regal fritillary

Dan W. Andree
7/4/2021

Location: Norman Co., Mn.

I cropped a 4k frame grab. Only seen this one single one. Beautiful butterfly.

regal fritillary

Dan W. Andree
6/26/2021

Location: Norman Co., Mn.

Yesterday 6-26-21 ...I did see one...Male Regal Fritillary got close enough to identify it while it paused briefly but it took off and I tried to keep track of it but lost track. It was the only one I seen out there. Seen a Great Spangled Fritillary too. Anyway the regals are emerging or at least starting to.

Last season I didn’t see any males until July 7, 2020 but I hadn’t been out there many times before that so they could have been around before that. I’ll try get out there again maybe today or sometime during a late afternoon this coming week to see if I see
any. I’d like to catch one with its wings open and that iridescent bluish sheen showing on both wings. I almost filmed one like that last season but just as I got the camera focused on it closed it wings then only opened them as it took off. They are a challenge but they are such a neat butterfly particularly if you can catch them just after emerging when fresh new wings etc. Pretty fortunate to have that species here.

Dan W. Andree
Early summer 2020

Location: Norman Co., Mn.

While I was filming her she crawled way down into the grass and out of site. I just left her be after that. Early Summer 2020 at a Prairie Preserve in Minnesota. Only seen a couple female Regals the whole 2020 season. There were times at the same preserve I didn’t see any.

regal fritillary

Dan W. Andree
Early summer 2020

Location: Norman Co., Mn.

I recently filmed and photographed this female Regal Fritillary on a prairie in Minnesota. I believe she had just recently emerged and her color was beautiful.

regal fritillary

Dan W. Andree
Summer 2020

Location: Scientific and Natural Area in Norman Co. Mn.

...on a Thistle flower. Seen a lot of the Goldenrod Soldier Beetles but very few female Regal’s. Male Regal’s had pretty much died off. Noticed Monarch’s were fairly abundant throughout the preserve.

regal fritillary

Dan W. Andree
7/19/2020

Location: a Scientific and Natural Area in Norman county, Mn.

Regal Fritillary. This season the first I seen of any Regal Fritillary butterflies was early July. This image is from over a week later and not sure the exact date this male first emerged.

regal fritillary

 

Male Regal’s in particular fade in color with time. It doesn’t take that long of time either. I noticed earlier in July the males were more reddish orange with some not as reddish tinted as others. They almost glowed. Then they constantly seemed to patrol the prairie hovering above the prairie grasses etc. searching for any females that may have emerged. This male has started fading but had an interesting color tint before it would eventually fade to a dull varying grayish tan brown mix with shredded wings etc. Such short lives they live and how different they look from when they first emerge to when nearing the end of the Regal’s short life. The female Regal tends to live longer into the season due to laying her eggs. Both male and female Regal Fritillary are beautiful when in their prime of life. Certainly deserve preservation.

Dan W. Andree
7/11/2020

Location: SNA in Mn

It shows the bluish sheen on the one wing that is in sunlight.

regal fritillary

Dan W. Andree
7/10/2020

Location: SNA in Mn

Regal Fritillary mating SNA in Mn. Really interesting wing patterns on Regals. Also that bluish sheen they can have in certain lighting on the lower wing areas is pretty cool as well. I feel fortunate to have come across the Regal and have gained a lot of respect and admiration for these butterflies.

regal fritillary

Dan W. Andree
Early July 2020

Location: SNA in Minnesota

I was real fortunate to capture the male regal after it recently emerged and feeding. Otherwise they seemed to just fly up and down the prairie areas looking for any emerged females. Hard to photograph or film then. Once in a while they land and either feed or rest but when they decide to do that is very unpredictable. Then the males go right back to looking for the female Regal.

regal fritillary

 

Also right now the majority of the males have faded with some shredded wings and nearing the end of their life. Stunning butterflies especially when they are just recently emerged and in the early stage of their very short lives. These were at a SNA in Minnesota. Seen more male Regal’s not that they were overly abundant or anything and only seen a couple female and at times none.

Dan W. Andree
July 2020

Location: SNA in Mn.

I was fortunate to come across a pair mating. I didn’t disturb them and they mainly sat stationary moving around slightly and once in a while opening and closing their wings. I filmed and photographed them since I am working on another regal fritillary video segment.

regal fritillary

 

I do not try to disturb anything in nature that I attempt to photograph or film. I figure most things in nature have enough struggles and disturbances in their lives. I will admit sometimes when walking through grasslands some insects, butterflies and even some birds can go unseen until you accidentally startled them to fly off or come into view. The mating regals were still in the same spot that day when I quietly and slowly backed away from them and left their area.

Dan W. Andree
July 2020

Location: SNA in Norman Co. Mn.

Regals are absolutely beautiful when they just emerge.

regal fritillary

Dan W. Andree
8/16/2019

Location: Norman Co. Mn.

Not the best lighting etc. for photography but one cannot pick the time or type of day when nature shows up. Kind of rare to see a Regal Fritillary and Monarch close enough to get them together in a photo. Aug. 2019 was the first time I ever seen a Regal Fritillary in my life. But both are beautiful butterflies, though I seen quite a few more Monarch’s than Regal Fritillary’s. Taken Aug. 16, 2019 at a Prairie Preserve in Norman county, Mn

regal fritillary

Dan W. Andree
August 2019

Location: Rural Norman Co. Mn.

The female was just taking flight. A “species of special concern” here in Minnesota. I found them to be a really interesting butterfly adding diversity and beauty to prairie areas. A Goldenrod Soldier beetle can also been seen on the flower. Seen many of them this past season. I came across this female Regal Fritillary during the second half of the month of August 2019 on a prairie in rural Norman Co. Mn.

regal fritillary

Dan W. Andree
August 2019

Location: Rural Norman Co. Mn.

regal fritillary

Dan W. Andree
8/30/2019

Location: Frenchman’s Bluff SNA

Regal Fritillary female on...

Prairie Blazing Star flower. Filmed her too. Only seen 2 females and 1 male. The male just kept flying and wouldn’t land long enough. I did get a brief close look at the male and it was pretty nice compared to some scruffy ones I seen some weeks back.

regal fritillary

Laura Baxley
7/11/2018

Location: Hole-in-the-Mountain Prairie

regal fritillary

Dave Jungst
8/28/2017

Location: Starbuck W.M.A., Pope County, MN

video still of egg laying

regal fritillary

Dave Jungst
7/17/2017

Location: Miller Hills W.P.A. in northwestern Kandiyohi County, MN

a pair of mating Regal Fritillary butterflies

regal fritillary

Dave Jungst
9/18/2014

Location: Pope County, Ben Wade Township, on a WPA

Female, Sept. 18, 2014

regal fritillary

Dave Jungst
9/10/2013

Location: Pope County, Chippewa Falls Township, near Terrace

Female, Sept. 10, 2013

regal fritillary

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