High Brown Fritillary
Encyclopedia
The High Brown Fritillary (Fabriciana adippe) is a butterfly
of the Nymphalidae family, native from Europe
across mainland Asia
to Japan
.
The adults fly in July/August and lay eggs near to the larval food plants which are species of violets, (similar to the Pearl bordered fritillary). The eggs are often laid in places where there are dead bracken
on the ground or in areas where the underlying rock is limestone
the eggs may be laid in moss overlying rocks. The mosaics are typically one-third grass and two-thirds bracken. It likes drier conditions (but not as dry as the Queen of Spain Fritillary
) than its more common relative Argynnis aglaja, preferring sandy or rocky hills and banks with patches of the foodplant for the larvae. It is among the first butterfly species to disappear when the vegetation becomes too lush.
Bugle
, Bramble
and thistle
flowers are favourite nectar sources, for the adult.
This species has legal protection in the UK under the 1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act
. The UK distribution can be found on the NBN website here
Butterfly
A butterfly is a mainly day-flying insect of the order Lepidoptera, which includes the butterflies and moths. Like other holometabolous insects, the butterfly's life cycle consists of four parts: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Most species are diurnal. Butterflies have large, often brightly coloured...
of the Nymphalidae family, native from Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
across mainland Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
to Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
The adults fly in July/August and lay eggs near to the larval food plants which are species of violets, (similar to the Pearl bordered fritillary). The eggs are often laid in places where there are dead bracken
Bracken
Bracken are several species of large, coarse ferns of the genus Pteridium. Ferns are vascular plants that have alternating generations, large plants that produce spores and small plants that produce sex cells . Brackens are in the family Dennstaedtiaceae, which are noted for their large, highly...
on the ground or in areas where the underlying rock is limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
the eggs may be laid in moss overlying rocks. The mosaics are typically one-third grass and two-thirds bracken. It likes drier conditions (but not as dry as the Queen of Spain Fritillary
Queen of Spain Fritillary
The Queen of Spain Fritillary is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae.-Range:It occurs throughout the Palaearctic from North Africa to Japan...
) than its more common relative Argynnis aglaja, preferring sandy or rocky hills and banks with patches of the foodplant for the larvae. It is among the first butterfly species to disappear when the vegetation becomes too lush.
Bugle
Ajuga reptans
Ajuga reptans, commonly known as Blue bugle, Bugleherb, Bugleweed, Carpetweed, Carpet Bungleweed, Common bugle, or Burgundy lace, is an herbaceous flowering plant native to Europe. This plant is often used as an ornamental plant. It is invasive in parts of North America.-Description:The bugle has...
, Bramble
Bramble
Brambles are thorny plants of the genus Rubus, in the rose family . Bramble fruit is the fruit of any such plant, including the blackberry and raspberry. The word comes from Germanic *bram-bezi, whence also German Brombeere , Dutch Braam and French framboise...
and thistle
Thistle
Thistle is the common name of a group of flowering plants characterised by leaves with sharp prickles on the margins, mostly in the family Asteraceae. Prickles often occur all over the plant – on surfaces such as those of the stem and flat parts of leaves. These are an adaptation that protects the...
flowers are favourite nectar sources, for the adult.
This species has legal protection in the UK under the 1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act
Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 is an Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom and was implemented to comply with the Directive 2009/147/EC on the conservation of wild birds...
. The UK distribution can be found on the NBN website here
External links
- Fabriciana adippe at funet.fi
- High Brown Fritillary photos
- Bracken for butterflies leaflet by Butterfly ConservationButterfly ConservationButterfly Conservation is an insect conservation organisation in the United Kingdom. It is one of the largest insect conservation organisations in the world.-History of the Organisation:...