The Silver-washed Fritillary

 The Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia) is our largest fritillary in Britain and is also one of our most spectacular butterfly species.

 They are powerful flyers along woodland edges and to watch a male courting a female as they fly together at head height along a ride is mesmerising. The male follows the female and then overtakes her by flying underneath her and rising in front of her, wafting pheromones, before then letting her fly on beneath him. This circular courtship is repeated many times before mating occurs.

Form valezina is a lovely olive-green variant that occurs in about 10% of the female population. It does not occur in males. Over the last few decades, paphia has become more common in my local East Sussex woods and consequently the appearance of valezina has become more frequent.

Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia)

Male

Female

Female, form valezina.

Mating pair with valezina female.

(My thanks to James who was already watching this pair when I arrived on site)