Head to head
Silver-washed Fritillary vs Great Spangled Fritillary
Silver-washed Fritillary
VS Great Spangled Fritillary
The silver-washed fritillary of Eurasia and the great spangled fritillary of North America are two large orange fritillaries whose caterpillars feed only on violets.
| Silver-washed Fritillary | Great Spangled Fritillary | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Argynnis paphia | Speyeria cybele |
| Underside | A greenish hindwing underside washed with streaks of silver | Large, metallic silver spots across the undersides of the hindwings |
| Caterpillar food | Dog-violets | Violet leaves, and nothing else |
| Eggs and winter | Females lay eggs in crevices in tree bark, and the caterpillars hatch and spend the winter before descending to feed on violets in spring | The caterpillar hatches in autumn but does not feed before winter, waiting dormant until spring to search for violets |
| Adult food | Nectar from flowers such as bramble and thistles | Nectar from a wide range of flowers, especially milkweed and thistle |
| Habitat | Woodland rides and clearings | Grassland, meadow, and forest edge habitat |
| Range | Europe, North Africa, and temperate Asia | Much of the United States and southern Canada |
| Conservation status | Least Concern, and spreading in parts of Britain | Least Concern |
Silver-washed Fritillary vs Great Spangled Fritillary: common questions
What do both caterpillars eat?
Both feed only on violets, so each species depends on violet plants being available where it lives.
Which fritillary lays its eggs in bark?
The silver-washed fritillary, whose females lay eggs in crevices in tree bark.
Which one has a rare green form?
The silver-washed fritillary, in which some females are a rare olive-green form known as valezina.