variegated fritillary

(Euptoieta claudia)

Conservation Status
IUCN Red List

not listed

NatureServe

N5 - Secure

SNRB - Unranked Breeding

Minnesota

not listed

 
variegated fritillary
Photo by Dan W. Andree
 
Description

Variegated fritillary is a medium-sized, migratory, fritillary butterfly. The wingspan is 1¾ to 2½. Females can be much larger than males.

The upper side of both wings are orange with dark brown bands and spots. On the outer margin there is a band (marginal band) of orange spots that have dark borders and are separated by heavy, dark veins. All of the spots are pale and distinct, even at the wing tip. There is an orange submarginal band with dark, round spots, and a pale orange median band with no spots. The veins in the submarginal band, median band, and base are dark and thin.

The base of the forewing is reddish-orange. The outer edge has a thick, black border. There is a pale orange spot near the center with a thick, black border. There are two black chevrons closer to the body. The base of the hindwing is reddish-orange with some thin black markings.

The underside of the hindwing is brown with thin, white veins; a wide, pale, postmedian band; a pale marginal band; and no conspicuous pale spots. The underside of the forewing is pale orange with a reddish orange base, black markings, and a pale orange spot rimmed in black in the forewing cell.

The caterpillar is orangish-red, shiny, and up to 2 long. Each abdominal segment has a white, footprint-shaped spot at the middle of the upper (dorsal) surface. On each side of each segment there is a dorsal row, subdorsal row, and spiracular row of black with white spots. Each of these rows has a single, branched, spike-like projection (scolus). There are two longer scoli on the prothorax that project well forward of the head. The scoli are black with an iridescent, purplish-blue reflection.

 

Size

1¾ to 2½ wingspan

 

Similar Species

 
Habitat

Open fields, meadows, roadsides

Biology

Season

Two or three broods; mid-June to mid-September

 

Behavior

 

 

Life Cycle

Adults migrate from the south, first appearing in Minnesota around mid-June. The female lays pale green or cream colored eggs singly on the leaves and stems of host plants. The larvae eat the leaves, stems, and flowers of host plants. There are usually two broods per year, sometimes three.

Adults migrate south in the fall. They overwinter as caterpillars and possibly also as adults in frost-free areas.

 

Larva Hosts

Violet (Viola spp.), flax (Linum spp.), plantain (Plantago spp.), Canada moonseed, and May-apple.

 

Adult Food

Nectar of dogbane (Apocynum spp.), milkweed (Asclepias spp.), aster (Symphyotrichum spp.), beggarticks (Bidens spp.), thistle (Cirsium spp.), narrow-leaved purple coneflower, fleabane (Erigeron spp.), boneset (Eupatorium spp.), alfalfa, red clover, ironweed (Vernonia spp.), Joe Pye weed (Eutrochium spp.), purple loosestrife, and bog Labrador tea.

Distribution

Distribution Map

 

Sources

7, 21, 24, 27, 29, 30, 75, 82, 83.

5/6/2025    
     

Occurrence

Common

Taxonomy

Order

Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths)

Superfamily

Papilionoidea (butterflies)

Family

Nymphalidae (brush-footed butterflies)

Subfamily

Heliconiinae (fritillaries and longwings)

Tribe

Argynnini (fritillaries)

Subtribe

Euptoietina

Genus

Euptoieta

   

Subordinate Taxa

variegated fritillary (Euptoieta claudia ssp. albiclaudia)

variegated fritillary (Euptoieta claudia ssp. claudia)

variegated fritillary (Euptoieta claudia ssp. daunius)

variegated fritillary (Euptoieta claudia ssp. fumosa)

variegated fritillary (Euptoieta claudia ssp. perdistincta)

variegated fritillary (Euptoieta claudia ssp. sunides)

variegated fritillary (Euptoieta claudia ssp. thekla)

   

Synonyms

Danaus nigrosignatus

Euptoieta dodgei

Euptoieta infuscata

Papilio claudia

Papilio clausius

Papilio columbina

Papilio mariannae

   

Common Names

variegated fritillary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glossary

Prothorax

The first (forward) segment of the thorax on an insect, bearing the first pair of legs but not wings.

 

Scolus

A spiny, branched projection from a larval body wall, the branches terminating with a single stiff, hair-like or bristle-like tip.

 

Spiracle

A small opening on the surface of an insect or arachnid through which it breathes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Visitor Photos
 

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Dan W. Andree

variegated fritillary    

Variegated Fritillary feeding on a Blanket flower

   
     
variegated fritillary   variegated fritillary

Variegated Fritillary...

A small butterfly though it looks large in the photo. Maybe 2.5 - 3 inch wing span at most.

 

Seen and photographed a male in pursuit of a female Variegated. Not the best photo only got a couple shots at them. It was quite windy out that day. They can real flit around and sometimes spook easily.

Interesting butterfly and some were slightly larger than others in size. Also the color patterns were neat and varied in color tones. Some looked almost painted with rich colors and detailing and some were paler and had scruffy wing areas. But then they have to deal with prairie winds etc. and they can get whipped around etc.

Dave Jungst

variegated fritillary

At Glacial Lakes State Park

MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
variegated fritillary   variegated fritillary

 

Camera

Slideshows

Euptoieta claudia (Variegated Fritillary)
Allen Chartier

Euptoieta claudia (Variegated Fritillary)

 

slideshow

Visitor Videos
 

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Dan W. Andree

"Fritillary Butterflies" filmed by Dan W. Andree
May 5, 2025

About

I filmed some fritillary butterflies during the past years and decided to put together a short video now in 2025 showing 4 different kinds. Just some basic general information and images of the Meadow, Variegated, Great Spangled and Regal Fritillary. There is readable text at the beginning and on and off text and narration throughout the video.

Cheryl TeHennepe

variegated fritillary 01
Jul 26, 2022

About

variegated fritillary (Euptoieta claudia)
7/24/2022
caterpillar 1 day before moving off pansies to pupate
Photo by Cheryl TeHennepe
http://www.minnesotaseasons.com/Insects/variegated_fritillary.html

Other Videos

IMG_0745.MOV
Walter Sanford

About

Uploaded on Nov 12, 2011

A short video clip of a Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia)

Variegated fritillary caterpillar
Bug of the Week

About

Published on Jun 8, 2012

This "hungry, hungry caterpillar," the larval stage of the Variegated Fritillary butterfly, makes quick work of a delicious flower blossom.

Courting Variegated Fritillaries
Dragonfly Woman

About

Published on Aug 23, 2013

A male variegated fritillary tries to get it on with a female!

Variegated Fritillary Butterfly Eclosing 1080p macro
timvid

About

Uploaded on Jun 20, 2011

http://www.WildlifeTheater.com

Variegated fritillary caterpillar eating a passion vine leaf
ba5sman

About

Uploaded on Jul 2, 2009

Variegated fritillary caterpillar eating a passion vine leaf

 

Camcorder

Visitor Sightings
 

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Dan W. Andree
6/24/2025

Location: Frenchman’s Bluff SNA

Variegated Fritillary feeding on a Blanket flower

variegated fritillary
Dan W. Andree
8/21/2019

Location: Frenchman’s Bluff SNA out in rural Norman County, Mn.

A small butterfly though it looks large in the photo. Maybe 2.5 - 3 inch wing span at most.

variegated fritillary
Dave Jungst
8/13/2014

Location: Pope County

At Glacial Lakes State Park

variegated fritillary
MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings

 

 

Binoculars

 

Created: 11/1/2012

Last Updated:

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