• Butterflies
• Dragonflies
• Damselflies
• Tiger beetles
• Hike with Mike

• The butterflies:
• Brushfooted Butterflies
  • Snouts
  • Heliconians and Fritillaries
  • True Brushfoots
  • Admirals and Relatives
  • Leafwings
  • Emperors
  • Satyrs
  • Monarchs
• Heliconians and Fritillaries
  • Gulf Fritillary
  • Variegated Fritillary
  • Great Spangled Fritillary
  • Aphrodite Fritillary
  • Regal Fritillary
  • Atlantis Fritillary
  • Bog Fritillary
  • Silver-bordered Fritillary
  • Meadow Fritillary
  • Frigga Fritillary
  • Freija Fritillary
  • Purplish Fritillary

Variegated Fritillary

(Euptoieta claudia)

The Variegated Fritillary is an immigrant species that invades Wisconsin yearly in late May or June with a second generation occurring in July or August. In the late 1980s when I first became interested in butterflies, I saw this species commonly for two years in Waushara County. In 1997, when I became very interested in learning what I could about Wisconsin butterflies and spent much more time in the field, I did not see this species anywhere in central Wisconsin until 2004 when I saw one individual in Wood County on June 20 and one in Jackson County on July 17. I saw two individuals of this species in Douglas County on August 4, 2005.

Identifying characteristics: Above, this species is a much lighter orange brown than any of the other Fritillaries, has a distinct light colored band through the middle of both wings, and somewhat scalloped wing margins. It is somewhat intermediate in size between the Aphrodite Fritillary and the Meadow Fritillary. Below this species is similarly colored to the upper surface, with no silvery spots, a lighter outer edge and a lighter band through the middle of the hind wing that contrasts sharply with the orange/brown especially near the leading edge of the wing.

Similar species: Similar in size and behavior to an American Lady, but really unlike any other Wisconsin species.

Habitat: Meadows, fields, and disturbed areas.

Flight: At least two broods, with the first one appearing in late May or Early June as immigrants from farther south, and a second brood in July and August. A third partial brood may be observed in some years. This species has been found in Michigan as late as October 31.

Abundance: An uncommon and unpredictable species throughout most of Wisconsin, Like most immigrants from the south, this species is much more common in southern Wisconsin and nearer natural migration routes such as the Mississippi and Wisconsin Rivers and along Lake Michigan.

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