
Marsh Fritillary
Orange and brown chequered butterfly with pattern of cream and orange bands and black marks on the underside of wings. The Glanville Fritillary is virtually restricted to coastal landslips on the southern half of the Isle of Wight and the Channel Islands along with a few coastal locations on the mainland.
The status of the butterfly appears to have changed little in recent decades, though there has been some loss of habitat due to coastal protection measures. However, there are only a handful of core breeding areas and it remains a vulnerable species.
The main foodplant is Ribwort Plantain (Plantago lanceolata). Buck's-horn Plantain (P. coronopus) is used occasionally as a secondary foodplant by final instar larvae.
There are two habitat types: Coastal grasslands either on undercliffs, deeply incised coastal river valleys with eroding sides, or cliff tops; and south-facing chalk downland. There are eighteenth-century records from woodland clearings in eastern England.
Glanville Fritillary (upperwing) - Bob Eade
Bob Eade
Glanville Fritillary (upperwing) - Iain Leach
Iain Leach
Glanville Fritillary (upperwing) - Bob Eade
Bob Eade
Glanville Fritillary (rare aberration) - Tamás Nestor
Tamás Nestor
Glanville Fritillary (underwing) - Tamás Nestor
Tamás Nestor
Glanville Fritillary (underwing) - Tamás Nestor
Tamás Nestor
Glanville Fritillary (underwing) - Tamás Nestor
Tamás Nestor
Tamás Nestor
Tamás Nestor
Peter Eeles
Peter Eeles
Glanville Fritillary (caterpillars) by Peter Eeles
Glanville Fritillary (caterpillars) by Peter Eeles
Peter Eeles
Peter Eeles
Glanville Fritillary (pupa) - Peter Eeles
Peter Eeles