Fritillaries in Sussex

 Fritillaries form part of the Nymphalidae family. Of the eight resident UK species, four occur in Sussex and in addition, one rare migrant has made a couple of appearances in the county in the last fifteen years or so.

Two of the Sussex resident species are common and widespread and two others are vulnerable, only surviving where habitat management accommodates their needs.

Historically, three other species were resident within the county but have long since died out. It is unclear whether the Glanville Fritillary (Melitaea cinxia) was ever truly native to Sussex. The Heath Fritillary (Melitaea athalia) and Marsh Fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia) certainly were but athalia died out during the early 20th century and aurinia became extinct around the middle of the 20th century.

The High Brown Fritillary (Fabriciana adippe) was once a common and widespread species in England and Wales but from the middle of the 20th century it underwent a catastrophic decline. It died out in Sussex during the 1980's and is now one of our most endangered species. It is restricted to just a few sites in Cumbria, South Wales and Devon.

(Ref: "A History of the Butterflies and Moths of Sussex" by Colin Pratt.)

Dark Green Fritillary (Speyeria aglaja)

This butterfly is predominantly a downland species in Sussex but it can occasionally be found in Wealden woodland clearings.

(males)

(females)

(mating)

Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia)

This handsome species is common and widespread in Sussex, more so in the west of the county.

It is predominantly a butterfly of woodland rides and clearings.

(males)

(female)

(mating)

(mating; form valezina female)

(bilateral gynandromorph; male on left and female right)

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary (Boloria selene)

Once a common and widespread species in Sussex, the last colony of this pretty little fritillary died out in 2013. It was re-introduced in 2017. The species has probably become a victim of our drying climate in south-east England as well as changes in land management.

(All of the following images pre-date 2013.)

(males)

(females)

(mating)

Pearl-bordered Fritillary (Boloria euphrosyne)

As with the previous species, euphrosyne has declined over recent decades due to changes in woodland management, particularly the cessation of coppicing. It is a species that requires targeted woodland management in Sussex. 

I am most familiar with euphrosyne at Abbot's Wood in East Sussex. The native population died out there during the 1990's but the species was re-introduced in 2004 using West Sussex stock.

(males)

(females)

(mating)

(post copulation)

Queen of Spain Fritillary (Issoria lathonia)

This species is a rare migrant to UK shores and it has made a couple of notable appearances in Sussex over the last 15 years or so.

The following images were taken at a site near Chichester in 2009.

(male)