The Marsh Fritillary, despite its name can often be found on heaths and dunes as its presence is partly dictated by the occurrence of its primary foodplant: Devil’s-bit Scabious. It is wonderfully patterned and is a butterfly worthy of protection. In Ireland the populations are among the strongest and healthiest in western Europe and it is treated as a priority species.

Distribution: Much of Europe. Absent from Norway, much of Sweden and Finland, peninsular Italy, most of Greece and much of Britain.

Flight Period: April-July in 1 brood, depending on location and altitude. In Ireland it flies primarily from May-June.

Habitat: Damp meadows, heath, dunes, woodland clearings, scrub.

Foodplants: Devil’s-bit Scabious (Succisa pratensis) and sometimes honeysuckles (Lonicera).

Nectar Sources: Ragged Robin (Lychnis flos-cuculi), buttercups (Ranunculus), dandelions (Taracaxum), thistles (Cirsium), knapweeds (Centaurea), tormentils (Potentilla erecta), vervains (Verbena), bugles (Ajuga), thymes (Thymus), brambles (Rubus).

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