Edwards' fritillary facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Edwards' fritillary |
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The Edwards' fritillary (scientific name: Speyeria edwardsii) is a beautiful butterfly found in North America. It belongs to a group of butterflies called the Nymphalidae family.
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Meet the Edwards' Fritillary
This special butterfly is known for its bright colors and interesting patterns. It's a medium-sized butterfly that can be found flying around during the warmer months.
What Does It Look Like?
The Edwards' fritillary is mostly orange with clear dark-brown bars on its upper wings. The edges of its wings are dark, with lighter circles and then darker crescent shapes. If you look at the underside of its wings, you'll see many silvery spots on a yellowish background.
How Big Is It?
The wingspan of an Edwards' fritillary can range from about 60–86 mm (2.4–3.4 in). This means its wings, when fully spread out, are roughly the length of a credit card.
Where Does It Live?
You can find the Edwards' fritillary in many parts of North America. It is common from Alberta in the west, all the way to Manitoba in the east. It also lives south into northern New Mexico. These areas often have open fields and meadows where the butterflies can fly freely.
What Do Young Butterflies Eat?
Like all butterflies, the Edwards' fritillary starts its life as a caterpillar. These young caterpillars love to eat the leaves of a plant called Viola nuttallii. This plant is very important for their growth and development.
Similar Butterflies
There are a few other butterflies that look a bit like the Edwards' fritillary. Sometimes it can be tricky to tell them apart!
- Great spangled fritillary – S. cybele
- Callippe fritillary – S. callippe
