Queen of Spain Fritillary
Encyclopedia
The Queen of Spain Fritillary (Issoria lathonia) is a butterfly
of the family Nymphalidae
.
to Japan
(Bretherton, 1990). It is distinctly migratory in Western Europe
, reaching almost as far north as the Arctic Circle
; however, it is resident in southern Sweden
and Finland
, and on the coastal sand dunes of the Netherlands
(Bretherton, 1990). A map of its distribution is given at Lepidoptera and some other life forms (2009).
(Bretherton, 1990; Porter, 1997).
Heat-dependent, the caterpillar
s of this species are found on the hottest places of the foodplants.
Flight time is between March and October, size is between 38 mm and 46 mm, and is usually found at altitudes between sea level and 2700 m.
Butterfly
A butterfly is a mainly day-flying insect of the order Lepidoptera, which includes the butterflies and moths. Like other holometabolous insects, the butterfly's life cycle consists of four parts: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Most species are diurnal. Butterflies have large, often brightly coloured...
of the family Nymphalidae
Nymphalidae
The Nymphalidae is a family of about 5,000 species of butterflies which are distributed throughout most of the world. These are usually medium sized to large butterflies. Most species have a reduced pair of forelegs and many hold their colourful wings flat when resting. They are also called...
.
Range
It occurs throughout the Palaearctic from North AfricaNorth Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
to Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
(Bretherton, 1990). It is distinctly migratory in Western Europe
Western Europe
Western Europe is a loose term for the collection of countries in the western most region of the European continents, though this definition is context-dependent and carries cultural and political connotations. One definition describes Western Europe as a geographic entity—the region lying in the...
, reaching almost as far north as the Arctic Circle
Arctic Circle
The Arctic Circle is one of the five major circles of latitude that mark maps of the Earth. For Epoch 2011, it is the parallel of latitude that runs north of the Equator....
; however, it is resident in southern Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
and Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
, and on the coastal sand dunes of the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
(Bretherton, 1990). A map of its distribution is given at Lepidoptera and some other life forms (2009).
Host plants
- Wild Pansy or Heartsease Viola tricolor
- Field Pansy Viola arvensisViola arvensisViola arvensis is a species of violet known by the common name field pansy. It is native to Europe, western Asia, and North Africa, and it is known on other continents as an introduced species and a weed of disturbed and cultivated areas....
- Other ViolaViolaThe viola is a bowed string instrument. It is the middle voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello.- Form :The viola is similar in material and construction to the violin. A full-size viola's body is between and longer than the body of a full-size violin , with an average...
species - Lucerne Medicago sativa
- Borage Borago officinalis
(Bretherton, 1990; Porter, 1997).
Heat-dependent, the caterpillar
Caterpillar
Caterpillars are the larval form of members of the order Lepidoptera . They are mostly herbivorous in food habit, although some species are insectivorous. Caterpillars are voracious feeders and many of them are considered to be pests in agriculture...
s of this species are found on the hottest places of the foodplants.
Other
The adult is a strong flyer, and may be found anywhere but forests.Flight time is between March and October, size is between 38 mm and 46 mm, and is usually found at altitudes between sea level and 2700 m.