Marsh Fritillary

The Marsh Fritillary is threatened, not only in the UK but across Europe, and is, therefore, the object of much conservation effort.

The wings of this beautiful butterfly are more brightly patterned than those of other fritillaries, with more heavily marked races being found in Scotland and Ireland. The larvae spin conspicuous webs that can easily be recorded in late summer.

The Marsh Fritillary was once widespread in Britain and Ireland but has declined severely over the twentieth century. The Marsh Fritillary populations are highly volatile and the species requires extensive habitats or habitat networks for its long term survival. It is now confined to the western side of Britain and Ireland.

Size and Family

Family: Fritillaries
Size: Medium
Wing Span Range (male to female) - 42-48mm

Conservation status

Butterfly Conservation priority: High
Section 41 species of principal importance under the NERC Act in England
Listed on Section 7 of the Environment (Wales) Act 2016
Northern Ireland Priority Species
Scottish Biodiversity List
UK BAP: Priority Species
European status: Vulnerable
Fully protected under the 1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act
Fully protected under then 1985 Northern Ireland Wildlife Order

Caterpillar Foodplants

The main foodplant is Devil's-bit-Scabious (Succisa pratensis). On calcareous grassland, it occasionally uses Field Scabious (Knautia arvensis) and Small Scabious (Scabiosa columbaria).

Lifecycle

Habitat

There are three main habitat types: damp grasslands dominated by tussock forming grasses and chalk grasslands (usually on the west or south-facing slopes in England) and shorter coastal grasslands (in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland). Temporary colonies may also exist in large (>1 ha) woodland clearings and in other grasslands.

Distribution

Countries: England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland
Massively declined and now restricted to the west coast of Scotland, south and west Wales, Northern Ireland and south-west and central southern England.
Distribution Trend Since 1970’s = -79%.