Violets

A Favourite of Fritillary Caterpillars

Violets are the ideal species to grow if we want to encourage fritillaries to set up breeding colonies in our area.

Leaves of the Common Dog Violet (Viola riviniana) and of the Marsh Violet (Viola palustris) are both eaten by caterpillars of the PEARL-BORDERED FRITILLARY and SMALL PEARL-BORDERED FRITILLARY .

The SILVER-WASHED FRITILLARY seems to prefer the Common Dog Violet; the DARK GREEN FITILLARY the Marsh Violet, although this preference may in part be due to the relative availability of the particular type of violet in the part of the country the butterflies frequent.

Violet flowers are also an early source of nectar for adult butterflies and pollen for bees and will grow in most types of soil, the main challenge being to prevent them from becoming swamped by other vegetation.

INCREASE BIODIVERSITY BY GROWING WILD VIOLETS TO SUPPORT THE BUTTERFLIES DESCRIBED BELOW

PEARL-BORDERED FRITILLARY
Bolaria euphrosyne

The female lays her eggs singly on the underside of the leaves of Dog or Marsh Violet an instant source of food for the emerging caterpillar. Once almost fully grown the caterpillar hibernates inside a rolled-up dead leaf.

Pearl-bordered Fritillaries are found in South and West England, Scotland and Wales.

SMALL PEARL-BORDERED FRITILLARY
Bolaria selene

Image to come

The female lays her eggs singly on the underside of the leaves of Dog or Marsh Violet an instant source of food for the emerging caterpillar. Once almost fully grown the caterpillar hibernates inside a rolled-up dead leaf.

​Small Pearl-bordered Fritillaries are found in South and West England, Scotland and Wales.

SILVER-WASHED FRITILLARY
Argynnis paphia
Image to come

 Now for a change of tactics. In this Fritillary, the eggs are laid not on the violet itself but on a tree trunk close to plants of usually Dog or Hairy Violet.  

The emerging caterpillar eats its egg shell then immediately hibernates in a  crevice of the tree bark, where it waits until the following spring before coming down to feast on the fresh young violet leaves.

Silver-washed Fritillaries are found in south-western England, Ireland and Wales.  

DARK-GREEN FRITILLARY
Argynnis agiaja
Image to come

Eggs are laid on the leaves or stems of violets or Wild Pansy but especially Marsh Violet. It hibernates as a young caterpillar at the base of the violet plant.

The Dark-green Fritillary is found over much of the UK