Art Shapiro's Butterfly Site
Monitoring butterfly populations across Central California for more than 35 years… Speyeria mormonia
Common Name: Mormon Fritillary
A small Frit, delicately marked, well-silvered, with rounded wings and a golden-ruddy cast on the hindwing beneath, found at high elevation mainly on and near grassy meadows. Common at Donner; at Castle Peak mainly on Castle Valley. Flies low; visits Aster, Rabbitbrush, Coyotemint, etc. A rare stray at lower elevations. This species typically emerges rather late (Late July-August) and flies well into autumn (October). The hosts are Violets; specific preferences are unknown. At Donner this species flies with Speyeria atlantis in relatively moist habitats, leaving the drier sites to S. egleis. Unlike egleis, it does not hilltop.
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