Dark green fritillary

The dark green fritillary is a striking butterfly belonging to the Nymphalidae family. This species can be observed fluttering around various parts of the Palearctic ecozone, including Europe, Morocco, Iran, Siberia, Central Asia, China, Korea, and Japan. With its fiery reddish-yellow wings embellished with distinct markings, it is truly a sight to behold.

There are several subspecies of the dark green fritillary, each adapted to different regions such as Southern Europe, Central Europe, the Caucasus, Altai, Siberia, and Morocco.

In the UK, these butterflies are commonly seen in pastures, flowery banks, and areas rich in their preferred food plants: Viola canina and Viola riviniana. They particularly thrive in bracken mosaics, often found on the peripheries of habitats suitable for high brown fritillaries.

For those interested in their distribution within the UK, detailed information can be found on the NBN website.