Pearl-bordered Fritillary
Clossiana euphrosyne
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Switzerland, May 2005
Switzerland, May 2005
This species is very similar to the small pearl-bordered fritillary but in my experience is more strictly a woodland species (though their habitats do overlap). The classic diagnostic feature is the single pearl in the middle of the underside hindwing, with yellow spots in the rest of the band. This is clearly visible in the second picture above. Other points of distinction are the very reddish underside and the yellow ring around the black spot in the cell of the underside hindwing.
In England this used to be called the April fritillary, though it rarely if ever flies in April there - possibly this was a throwback to the Julian calendar! The small pearl-bordered fritillary flies a little later and was called the May fritillary. In the wood where I photographed the first two above, small pearl-bordered does certainly succeed pearl-bordered as the year goes on.