Dark green fritillary by Nick Goodrum 1/2
Dark green fritillary by Jackie Dent 2/2

Dark green fritillary Argynnis aglaja

At the start of the twentieth century no fewer than four species of fritillary bred in Norfolk. By the end of the century, after decades of agricultural expansion and mechanisation, only the dark green fritillary remained. Happily the silver-washed fritillary has recently recolonized, but it remains the case that the dark green fritillary is our only fairly widespread species.

Conservation status

The dark green fritillary was presumably once common in a range of open habitats throughout Norfolk. Today, as a result of agricultural mechanisation, it is scarce and is largely restricted to coastal sand dunes and scrub.

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Details

Did you know? The dark green fritillary overwinters as a caterpillar and pupates in May. Eggs laid in July are caterpillars by the end of the month or the start of August so the species may be found as a caterpillar in Norfolk in every month of the year except June.
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