 |
 |
 |
|
| UK Status |
|
|
|
| Resident |
A species which is continually Resident in the UK with stable breeding populations. |
|
|
| Migrant |
A species which occurs as a Migrant in the UK. It may be able to breed here although they are usually unable to survive our winter months. Migrants are normally reported in the UK every year. |
|
|
| Rare Migrant |
A species which occurs as a Rare Migrant in the UK. It may able to breed here although they are usually unable to survive our winter months. Rare Migrants may not be seen for many years. |
|
|
| Extinct |
A species which is Extinct in the UK, usually as a result of habitat loss. |
|
|
| Introduction |
A species which ocurs in the UK as an accidental introduction. |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Description
Although this large powerful butterfly is one of our most widespread Fritillaries its is rarely encountered except in suitable areas. It is very similar in appearance and size to the rarer High Brown Fritillary. The uppersides are a golden orange-brown colour with a pattern of black spots and crescents. The females tend to be paler in colour. Its name is derived from the colouration of the underside of its wings which a green leading to pale yellow-brown with pure white spots.
Butterflies from northern England and Scotland tend to be darker and more heavily patterned.
During hot sunny days the males fly constantly in search of females displaying a distinctive flight pattern of rapid wing beats followed by a fast smooth glide before yet more rapid wing beats. In order to get close to a Dark Green Fritillary, you should search for them basking in weak sunshine during the morning or evening.
Habitat
The Dark Green Fritillary can be found in a range of flower-rich grasslands with patches of scrub. They are present on coastal grassland and dunes chalk and limestone grassland and sometimes woodland rides and clearings.
Larval Food Plants
The larvae feed on Common Dog-violet (Viola riviniana) Hairy Violet (Viola hirta) and Marsh Violet (Viola palustris).
British Subspecies
The following sub-species of the Dark Green Fritillary occur in the UK.
 Dark Green Fritillary - Argynnis aglaja aglaja (Linnaeus, 1758) - Occurs in England, Wales and southern Scotland.
Dark Green Fritillary - Argynnis aglaja scotia (Watkins, 1923) - Occurs in Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man.The female tends to be darker than ssp. aglaja.
|
|
|
| Stock Photography Library |
| We have 33 photographs of the Dark Green Fritillary in the British Butterflies photo library |
|
BB1772 - Dark Green Fritillary
DSC_5815.JPG
|
 |
|
BB1771 - Dark Green Fritillary
DSC_5805.JPG
|
|
|
BB1770 - Dark Green Fritillary
DSC_5799.JPG
|
|
|
BB1744 - Dark Green Fritillary
DSC_5584.JPG
|
|
|
BB1743 - Dark Green Fritillary
DSC_5565.JPG
|
|
|
BB1742 - Dark Green Fritillary
DSC_5553.JPG
|
|
|
BB1741 - Dark Green Fritillary
DSC_5531.JPG
|
|
|
BB1740 - Dark Green Fritillary
DSC_5524.JPG
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Distribution |
|
 |
| The Dark Green Fritillary is sometimes abundant in some regions but in general it has declined dramatically, most notably in central and eastern England. |
|
 |
|
| Where to see the Dark Green Fritillary |
The Dark Green Fritillary is sometimes abundant in some regions but in general it has declined dramatically, most notably in central and eastern England.
Key sites include:
Northumberland (Holy Island), Pembrokeshire (St David's Head / Whitesands), Gloucestershire (Prestbury Hill ), Dorset (Melbury Down NT) and Yorkshire (Scar Close NNR). |
|
| Population Trends |
| species status |
the Dark Green Fritillary is a resident species in Britain |
| population trend1 |
(1995-2004)  down by -10% |
(1976-2004)  up by 63% |
|
|
1Fox, R., Asher. J., Brereton. T., Roy, D & Warren, M.
(2006) The State of Butterflies in Britain & Ireland, Pices, Oxford. |
| UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) Status |
| UK BAP status2 |
not listed (link) |
|
|
| 2 For more information about the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) species status, visit www.ukbap.org.uk. |
| IUCN Category Status |
| IUCN category3 |
 least concern4 |
|
|
3 Fox, R., Warren, M & Brereton, T.
(2007) New Red List of British Butterflies. Butterfly Conservation, Wareham.
4 More information about IUCN categories available here. |
| Find Out More Online* |
| More information about the Dark Green Fritillary can be found on Peter Eeles excellent UK Butterflies web site. |
|
|
|
|
Aberrations and Forms |
|
|
| We currently know of 21 named aberrant forms of the Dark Green Fritillary. More information about aberrants can be found here. |
 ab. aberrans - Lampa (1885) |
|
| ab. albescens - Verity (1904) |
|
| ab. albicans - Dietrich (1867) |
|
| ab. albomaculata - Rebel (1910) |
|
| ab. aurantiaca - Reuss (1916) |
|
| ab. aurea - Tutt (1896) |
|
| ab. cadmeis - Lempke (1956) |
|
| ab. clorinda - Sag (1932) |
|
| ab. fasciata - Blachier (1910) |
|
| ab. flavescen - Tutt (1896) |
|
| ab. fusca - Tutt (1896) |
|
| ab. hindenburgi - Schuster von Forstner (1928) |
|
| ab. jurasinna - Rougemont (1871) |
|
| ab. nana - Wheeler (1903) |
|
| ab. nigrans - Newnham (1900) |
|
| ab. pallida - Tutt (1896) |
|
| ab. pluriradiata - Verity (1950) |
|
| ab. robnora - Kershaw (1952) |
|
| ab. suffusa - Tutt (1896) |
|
| ab. viridiatra - Strand (1912) |
|
| ab. wimani - Holmgren (1888) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| References |
| The information on this web site comes from a variety of freely available resources including books, academic reports and web sites alongside my own personal observations of butterflies. The species descriptions are currently in the process of being edited (spring 2009) to include new data, recent personal observations and referencing following a major update to the site.
A complete list of references mentioned in the text on this web site is available here. |
| * External Links Disclaimer |
| This web site includes links to information provided by external web sites which are not in any way under the control of www.britishbutterflies.co.uk. We cannot, therefore, be held responsible for the content of external web pages. |
|
|
|
|
58-68mm
