Supping at a martagon lily,
Switzerland, July 2015
Male, Switzerland, July 2005
Female, July 2011
Female, July 2011
Switzerland, July 2005
Switzerland, July 2006
Switzerland, July 2006
Switzerland, July 2006
Switzerland, July 2009
Pupa, Switzerland,, July 2011
Distribution
The largest and boldest of
the Boloria
fritillaries, this species is locally common in the Alps, the Balkans
and the Baltic countries. Near my haunts in Vaud, in Switzerland (where
subspecies cypris
flies), it
is common from June onwards, mostly above about 1000m, in a single
generation. It flies lower that this in central France (subspecies titania).
The upperside is strongly marked and not infrequently a little melanic.
The submarginal and postdiscal spots on the hindwings resemble a row of
chess pawns, with the round postdiscal spots, representing the heads of
the pawns, rather close to the fat, triangular bodies. The undersides
are still more characteristic, the hindwings being marked in rich
shades of red, yellow and white, set off by hints of violet.
Altogether, this is an unmistakable butterfly, its large size and
confident flight making it recognisable even from a distance.
Eggs are laid on bistort. The caterpillar develops inside but doesn't
hatch until the following spring - hence its later emergence than many
other Boloria
species.