The Meadow Fritillary is a species of brushfoot butterflies which is usually only found in Tennessee in the higher elevations. When the wings are open, the upper tip of the forewings is squared off, while both pairs of wings have reddish-orange coloration with dense black markings. When the wings are closed, the underside of the hindwings exhibits patterns in orange and purplish brown along with an off-white basal patch in each.

 

“Meadow Fritillary” by Pauline Rosenberg, licensed under (CC BY-NC 2.0)

 

Meadow Fritillary Facts

Butterfly Family: Brush-footed Butterflies (Nymphalidae)

Butterfly Subfamily: Heliconiinae

Butterfly Wingspan: 1 3/8 – 2 inches

Butterfly Habitat: Wet, open places like streamsides, pastures, and fields

 

Meadow Fritillary Host and Nectar Plants

Host Plants:

• Violet (Viola species)

Nectar Plants:

• Black-eyed Susan
• Dandelions
• Ox-eyed Daisy
• Verbena
• Dogbane