Queen of Spain Fritillary

Queen of Spain Fritillary
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Nymphalidae
Genus:	Issoria
Species:	I. lathonia
Binomial name
Issoria lathonia (Linnaeus, 1758)
Synonyms
Argynnis lathonia

Ventral view

The Queen of Spain Fritillary (Issoria lathonia) is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae.

Range

It occurs throughout the Palaearctic from North Africa to Japan (Bretherton, 1990). It is distinctly migratory in Western Europe, in Central and South Europe - all Italy, 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).

Host plants

• Wild Pansy or Heartsease Viola tricolor
• Field Pansy Viola arvensis
• Other Viola species
• Lucerne Medicago sativa
• Borage Borago officinalis

(Bretherton, 1990; Porter, 1997).

Heat-dependent, the caterpillars 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.

Caterpillar

References

• Bretherton, R.F. (1990), ARGYNNIS LATHONIA (Linnaeus). Pages 222–224 in Emmet, A.M., J. Heath et al. (Eds.) The Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland. The Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland Vol. 7 Part 1 (Hesperiidae to Nymphalidae), Harley Books, Colechester, UK. 370p. 
• Lepidoptera and some other life forms: Info on Issoria lathonia (accessed 24 October 2009).
• Porter, Jim (1997), The Colour Identification Guide to Caterpillars of the British Isles (Macrolepidoptera), Viking, London. pp. 16–17. 
• Zobar, Damla; Genc, Hanife (2008), "Biology of the Queen of Spain Fritillary, Issoria lathonia", Florida Entomologist 91 (2): 237–240 .