Male. Taken at Bernwood Forest, Bucks, on July 5th 2021. (© David Hastings)
(1/640th sec at f11)

Male underside. Taken at Bernwood Forest, Bucks on June 22nd 2020. (© David Hastings)
(1/250th sec at f11)

Female. Taken at Bernwood Forest, Bucks, on July 8th 2020. (© David Hastings)
(1/160th sec at f11)

Female underside. Taken at Bernwood Forest, Oxon., on July 8th 2020. (© David Hastings)
(1/125th sec at f11)

Female of f. valezina. Taken at Bernwood Forest, Bucks, on July 22nd 2021. (© David Hastings)
(1/400th sec at f13)

Mating pair. Taken at Whitecross Green Wood, Oxon., on July 1st 2017. (© David Hastings)
(1/500th sec at f14)

Description

Family: Heliconiinae

Wing span: 60-62 mm

This butterfly is the largest British fritillary and gets its name from the streaks of silver found on the underside of the wings. The male has four distinctive sex brands on its forewings that are used in courtship. The female is paler than the male, has rounder wings, fewer linear markings and more prominent spots. There is a variation called f. valezina, which has a silvery green ground colour to the upper surfaces. This only occurs in females.

The Silver-washed Fritillary is found in Ireland, Wales and in England south-west of a line drawn between Merseyside and the Thames Estuary. It is absent from Scotland.

It is found in woodland where the larval foodplant grows. It can also be found flying along lanes and open countryside in some areas. Both deciduous and coniferous woodland is used; the presence of this butterfly is only limited by the presence of nectar sources and larval foodplant.

The flight period is from late June to the end of August, with a peak in mid-July. The larva is the over-wintering stage.

The larval foodplant is the Common Dog-violet.

Adults frequently feed on aphid honeydew in the tree-tops. However, they often descend to take nectar from Bramble and Thistle flowers.

The bright orange male is quite distinctive as it flies powerfully along woodland rides, pausing only briefly to feed or investigate anything with an orange hue that could be a potential mate.

This species is of least concern.

Earliest UK sighting: 11th June ; Latest UK sighting: 22nd August

Sightings