Status
Conservation status
Ireland: Endangered (Regan et al., 2010)
Europe: Least Concern (van Swaay et al., 2010)
Climate risk category: Potential Climate Change Risk; present distribution in Europe can be explained by climate to only a limited extent (Settele et al., 2008).
Legal status
The Pearl-bordered Fritillary is not afforded legal protection in Ireland.
Native status
Resident
Species Biology
Identification
Key identification features include:
- Medium size, wingspan: 38 - 47 mm
- Rich orange colouration
- Underside of the hindwing bordered by a series of distinct white "pearls".
Habitat
Restricted to the Burren, southeast Galway and the Aran Islands: grassy forest clearings; unimproved dry calcareous grassland; limestone pavement. Adults fly briskly through open hazel scrub and sunlit woodland margins and rides (Bond & Gittings, 2008).
Flight period
Univoltine: flies from May to June.
Life cycle
An egg is laid on either the undersurface, or less often, the upper surface of the leaves of the foodplant; or on leaf debris in the immediate vicinity of the foodplant; usually laid singly, sometimes in pairs. After hatching in July or August the larvae feed until about early October, then enter diapause, feeding again from about late March to late April. The larvae spend much of the time in dry curled leaves on the ground, emerging to feed on the young tender leaves of the foodplant or to bask; frequently leaving only bare stalks as evidence of feeding. Overwintering in larval diapause and pupating in late April, suspended from a silken pad in a loose structure spun up in vegetation (Bond & Gittings, 2008).
Food plants
The main foodplants are believed to be Common Dog-Violet (Viola riviniana) and Marsh Violet (V. palustris); but the latter is poorly represented in the Irish distribution of this species (Bond & Gittings, 2008).
Flowers visited
Generalist, both sexes are commonly seen feeding on: Bird's Foot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), Bugle (Ajuga reptans), Buttercup
(Ranunculus spp.) and Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non–scriptus), but Dandelion (Taraxacum agg.), Hawkweeds (Hieracium/Hypochoeris), Ragged Robin (Lychnis flos-cuculi), Selfheal (Prunella vulgaris), Thistles (Cirsium spp. and Carduus spp.) and Tormentil (Potentilla erecta) are also known to be used.
Distribution
World distribution(GBIF)
It is widespread throughout Europe, Russia and temperate Asia.
Temporal change
Records submitted to Data Centre in 2024
The following map is interactive. If you would prefer to view it full screen then click here.
References
Publications
Bond, K.G.M. and Gittings, T. 2008. Database of Irish Lepidoptera. 1 - Macrohabitats, microsites and traits of Noctuidae and butterflies. Irish Wildlife Manuals, No. 35. National Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Dublin, Ireland.
Regan, E.C., Nelson, B., Aldwell, B., Bertrand, C., Bond, K., Harding, J., Nash, D., Nixon, D. and Wilson, C.J. 2010. Ireland Red List No. 4 – Butterflies. National Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Ireland.
Settele, J., Kudrna, O., Harpke, A., Kühn, I., Van Swaay, C., Verovnik, R., Warren, M.S., Wiemers, M., Hanspach, J., Hickler, T. and Kühn, E. 2008. Climatic risk atlas of European butterflies. Sofia-Moscow: Pensoft.
Van Swaay, C., Cuttelod, A., Collins, S., Maes, D., López Munguira, M., Šašic, M., Settele, J., Verovnik, R., Verstrael, T., Warren, M., Wiemers, M. and Wynhof, I. 2010. European Red List of Butterflies. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union.