Insect · GBIF taxon 1905172
Great Spangled Fritillary
Speyeria cybeleAlso known as Great Spangled Fritillary Butterfly
Great spangled fritillaries flutter through sun-dappled meadows and moist open woods across North America, instantly recognizable by their warm orange wings dusted with dark silver-spotted undersides. Females lay eggs near violet plants in late summer, where newly hatched caterpillars immediately enter winter diapause before feeding on fresh violet leaves the following spring. Adults visit preferred nectar flowers like Joe-Pye weed, milkweed, and thistles throughout hot summer afternoons.
PollinatorNectar FeederWoodland
Licensed referenceMONGO / Public domain · cc0
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Nectar
- Tree Sap
- Dung Minerals
Predators
- Songbirds
- Orb-weaver Spiders
- Praying Mantises
ThreatsHabitat loss, pesticide use, climate change
HabitatsFields, meadows, pastures, open woodlands, river valleys
Life spanUp to 1 year (single generation per year)
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderLepidoptera
- FamilyNymphalidae
- GenusSpeyeria
- SpeciesSpeyeria cybele
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Observation: Look for adults actively nectaring on tall pink and purple flowers during warm, sunny afternoons.
- Garden Planting: Grow native violets nearby to support larvae and retain breeding populations locally.
- Approach: Walk slowly without casting shadows over the butterfly, as sudden dark shapes trigger immediate flight.
Host Plant James Steakley / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Nectar Source no rights reserved, uploaded by Étienne Lacroix-Carignan · cc0
Close Relative 
Close Relative Sarah Bailey at English Wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
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Mystic Meadows
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