Silver-washed fritillary

About this butterfly

The Silver-washed Fritillary is a large orange woodland butterfly. The underside of the hindwing shows silvery streaks that give the English name. Adults fly along rides and in glades in high summer, taking nectar from bramble, thistles and similar flowers. Eggs are often laid on tree trunks rather than directly on violets. The species is not threatened across Europe as a whole and has expanded in Britain, even if it remains locally scarce in some regions. Males are powerful, gliding fliers. The German name Kaisermantel suits its size and rich colour. Closed, dark plantations with no rides hold few adults. Flowering woodland edges support feeding. Local scarcity in some regions is not the same as a continent-wide threat.