Interactive Butterfly CD
Butterflies of the
Carolinas & Virginias

Diana Fritillary,
Speyeria diana

Size: Wingspan is 3 to 4 1/8 inches.

Similar Species:
None really in flight the males look slightly like Great Spangled Fritillaries. Females mimic the Pipevine Swallowtail and might be confused with the much smaller Red-spotted Purple

Habitat: Along sunlit mountain roads near creeks at lower elevations. Glades along mountain forests or woods.

Abundance: Uncommon in the mountains and rare in the piedmont.

Flight Period: Mid June until early October.

Comments: I found these Diana Fritillaries in Montgomery County Virginia on July 01, 2000 with the help of Clyde Kessler and Bruce Grimes. They were all along the gravel road we were on nectaring on Common Milkweed, Asclepias syriaca.

The females of this species mimic the Pipevine Swallowtail which is toxic to birds. I saw 2 females on the milkweed from the car and when I got out to look one was actually a Pipevine Swallowtail, so they fooled me at least once!

Female