Argynnis paphia
This is a fairly common species of sunny, woodland rides and glades. Most colonies are fairly small and number in the tens but in a good year some woods may yield a peak daily count exceeding one hundred. Occasionally these butterflies wander away from their woodland habitat, and visit our gardens, where they are drawn irresistibly to Buddleia (and Hemp Agrimony and Field Scabious, should you be a wildlife gardener!).
In Sussex, the only confusion species is Dark Green Fritillary, but the latter is usually found on open downland and there are few locations in the county where the two species may be seen flying side-by-side. The background colour of a Silver-washed Fritillary is pale orange (much darker in DGFs) and the male is particularly distinctive as it has four black sex-brands on the forewings, and no other fritillary species in the Uk has these distinctive markings. Apart from colouring and markings the flight characteristics of these two fritillary species are quite different (but you do need to see a few of each, before that is apparent).
This species is single-brooded and for 2006-2024 an “average first sighting” was June 15th (with a very large range of June 4th and July 6th). For the same period the “average last sighting” was August 28th (range, August 4th to September 23rd).
To name just a few, Abbot’s Wood, Beckley Wood, Eartham Wood, Graffham Down Trust reserves and Southwater Woods. If you are struggling to see one, then position yourself next to a large clump of Bramble flowers or thistles, in a sunny glade or wide, woodland ride and be prepared to wait for 10-15 minutes. Your patience is likely to be rewarded.
Female Silver-washed Fritillary with open wings – photo by David Cook
Male with open wings – photo by Nicholas Turner
Nectaring on Blackberry blossom – photo by Dave Brown
Nectaring on Blackberry blossom – photo by Dave Brown
Valezina female - winner of the 2024 photo competition - by Simon Linington
A mating pair – photo by David Cook
Female at rest - photo by John Williams
With closed wings - photo by Trevor Rapley
Nectaring on Blackberry blossom - photo by Patrick Moore
Butterfly Conservation Silver-washed Fritillary
