Ireland’s largest resident butterfly, the Silver-washed Fritillary is a striking orange insect found in woodland clearings and sunny glades. It is relatively easy to identify in most areas although it can fly alongside the Cardinal in continental Europe, which is usually bigger, paler and much greener on the underside. It has a powerful flight and can be active; gliding though trees and stopping to nectar on thistles and brambles. I have found it to be quite widespread and it usually occurs in twos and threes in Ireland, but I have counted over 20 in continental Europe.
Distribution: Most of Europe. Absent from southern Iberia, northern Britain, northern Fennoscandia and some Mediterranean islands.
Flight Period: June-September in 1 brood, most common in July and August.
Habitat: Woodland clearings and margins, wooded scrub, occasionally mature gardens up to 1500m.
Foodplants: Violets (Viola), especially Dog Violet (Viola riviniana).
Nectar Sources: Primarily brambles (Rubus) but also thistles (Cirsium, Carduus), Privet (Ligustrum vulgare), Ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris), knapweeds (Centaurea)and scabiouses (Knautia, Succisa).
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- Silver-washed Fritllary, Slieve Gullion, Ireland, August 2023
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- Silver-washed Fritllary, Slieve Gullion, Ireland, August 2023
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- Silver-washed Fritillary, Blackdown Hills, England, July 2015
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- Silver-washed Fritillary, Blackdown Hills, England, July 2015
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- Silver-washed Fritillary, Gavarnie, France, July 2019
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- Silver-washed Fritillary, Blackdown Hills, England, July 2015
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- Silver-washed Fritillary Larva
