Summary ⁷

The Atlantis Fritillary (Speyeria atlantis) is a butterfly of the Nymphalidae family of North America. It is from the Avalon Peninsula of Newfoundland and Labrador to northern British Columbia, across northern United States south as far as Colorado and West Virginia. It resides as far north as James Bay.

General description ⁸

Very similar to S. hesperis, with which it was considered to be conspecific until recently (Scott et al. 1998). Atlantis is larger on average, with a broader, more squared-off forewing and heavier upperside markings. The hindwing underside has a chocolate-brown disc, compared to reddish-brown or rusty-brown in hesperis.

Distribution ⁹

Newfoundland west to BC (Layberry et al. 1998)

Habitat ¹⁰

Essentially a boreal forest species in AB, usually near moist spruce woods.

Migration ¹¹

Non-Migrant: No. All populations of this species make significant seasonal migrations.

Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make local extended movements (generally less than 200 km) at particular times of the year (e.g., to breeding or wintering grounds, to hibernation sites).

Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make annual migrations of over 200 km.

Flowering plants visited by speyeria atlantis in illinois ¹²

Speyeria atlantis W.H. Edwards: Nymphalidae, Lepidoptera
(observations are from Keddy & Keddy and Luer; this butterfly is the Atlantis Fritillary)

Asteraceae: Cirsium pitcheri sn fq (KK); Orchidaceae: Platanthera blephariglottis sn (Lu)
Insect activities:
fq = frequent flower visitor (about 6 or more visits reported)
sn = sucks nectar

Scientific observers:
(KK) = Keddy & Keddy
(Lu) = C.A. Luer

Behaviour ¹³

Adults sip flower nectar, and sometimes mud and dung. Males patrol for females (Scott, 1986).

Conservation status ¹⁴

Not of concern.

Threats ¹⁵

Degree of Threat: D : Unthreatened throughout its range, communities may be threatened in minor portions of the range or degree of variation falls within natural variation

Sources and Credits

1. (c) Jerry Oldenettel, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://www.flickr.com/photos/7457894@N04/4741072524
2. (c) Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://mczbase.mcz.harvard.edu/specimen_images/ent-lepidoptera/images/2011_11_28/IMG_107869.JPG
3. (c) Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://mczbase.mcz.harvard.edu/specimen_images/ent-lepidoptera/images/2012_02_27/IMG_113131.JPG
4. (c) Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://mczbase.mcz.harvard.edu/specimen_images/ent-lepidoptera/images/2012_02_27/IMG_113132.JPG
5. (c) Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://mczbase.mcz.harvard.edu/specimen_images/ent-lepidoptera/images/2012_02_27/IMG_113173.JPG
6. (c) Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://mczbase.mcz.harvard.edu/specimen_images/ent-lepidoptera/images/2012_02_27/IMG_113182.JPG
7. (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speyeria_atlantis
8. (c) University of Alberta Museums, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/31886316
9. (c) University of Alberta Museums, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/31886315
10. (c) University of Alberta Museums, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/31886317
11. (c) NatureServe, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/28753382
12. (c) John Hilty, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/32697782
13. (c) Leslie Ries, some rights reserved (CC BY), http://eol.org/data_objects/19885108
14. (c) University of Alberta Museums, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/31886313
15. (c) NatureServe, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/28753376

More Info

• iNaturalist.ca taxon page
• Animal Diversity Web
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• BOLD Systems BIN search
• CUIC Insect Images
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
• HOSTS - a Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants

Range Map

(c) Discover Life and original sources, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC-SA)

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