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The most numerous Greater Fritillary, Atlantis Fritillary is 5.0 to 6.4 cm in size. Its upperside is dark orange (the female is slightly lighter in colour) with thick black border, a row of black spots, followed by a row of black "V"-shapes at the inside edge of the border. The underside of its hindwing is purplish brown with silver spots.
Eggs are laid singly on leaf litter near Violet plants. In cases where they have already withered and blown away, females still lay their eggs near where the host plant will reappear the next spring. It is believed females are able to locate violet roots by scent. Caterpillars are black with light coloured stripes and orange spines. The larvae hibernate and feed on young Violet leaves in the next Spring.
In the Algonquin Highlands, the Atlantis Fritillary flies from June into late August. You will find them in bogs or moist meadows and along streams. Adults will drink the nectar of a variety of flowers, and sometimes feed on dung and mud.
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ATLANTIS FRITILLARY
Speyeria atlantis
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