Diana Fritillary (Speyeria diana)

Caterpillar

Diana Fritillary Caterpillar encyclopediaofarkansas.net

The insects hatch out before winter and consume the host plant’s leaves. It is either completely black or blackish brown with yellow dots and lines of thorny projections on the dorsal side.

Pupa

Diana Fritillary Pupa cdn.butterflyatlas.org

As the winter arrives, the caterpillar burrows directly into the ground and transform into a black to brown-black chrysalis to emerge as an adult butterfly in spring.

Adult Butterfly

Sexual Dimorphism: Distinctly present

Color and Appearance: While the male butterflies have broad orange borders at the outer edges of both the forewings and the hind wings when they are open, and burnt orange color when closed, the females exhibit a dark blue coloration on the dorsal side of their wings and almost a dusty grayish hue on the ventral side. Also, by size, the female of the species is larger than the male.

Average wingspan: 3 7/16 to 4 7/16 inches (8.7 to 11.3 cm)

Flight pattern: Fast

Eggs

Yellowish to pale white in color, laid one at a time. These butterflies have a unique characteristic of scattering their eggs at the base of the violet plants (instead of laying them on the leaves, like most other butterfly species).