Queen of Spain fritillary

Issoria lathonia lathonia

A medium-sized fritillary with a wingspan of 35-50 mm, males and females are a bright orange-violet with numerous brownish-black markings; undersides have conspicuous pearly spots, unlike other species. This species lives in different types of habitats, such as farmland, waysides, woodland, meadows, fields, dry flowery grassland, and stony slopes. Host plants include the garden violet (Viola odorata), alfalfa (Medicago sativa), borage (Borago officinalis), buglosses (Anchusa spp.), sainfoins (Onobrychis spp.), and blackberries (Rubus spp.). It flies March through October in several broods.

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