Argynnis paphia (Silver-washed Fritillary, Kaisermantel, Silberstrich, Tabac d'Espagne)
Argynnis paphia, also called Silver-washed Fritillary or Kaisermantel is a common butterfly from Palaearctic ecozone (Europe). The first description was in 1758 by Linnaeus. With a wingspan of 6.0 – 7.0 cm the Silver-washed Fritillary is a small member of the family NYMPHALIDAE. The butterfly is orange and brown with many black spots. Furthermore the male has some black strips.
Photos for easy identification
- Photo © by Mario Maier (Mario.Maier@butterflies.de)
- Photo © by Thomas Neubauer; 23.06.2008 Niederösterreich
- Photo © by Thomas Neubauer, 13.08.2007, Lower Austria
- Photo © by Thomas Neubauer, 25.06.2007, Vienna
- Photo © by Thomas Neubauer, 13.08.2007, Lower Austria
- Photo © by Thomas Neubauer, 25.06.2007, Vienna
- Photo © by Thomas Neubauer, 13.08.2007, Lower Austria
- Photo © by Thomas Neubauer, 25.08.2007, Vienna
These are nice photos of Argynnis paphia (Silver-washed Fritillary, Kaisermantel, Silberstrich, Tabac d'Espagne). Argynnis paphia is a member of the family NYMPHALIDAE from Palaearctic (Europe).
Description
The forewings are orange and brown. Many black spots are evenly spread on the whole wing.
The underside is orange and brown. The black spots are smaler then the spots from upside. The pinion is greenish.
The hind wings are orange and brown. The margin is ridged. Many black spots are evenly spread on the whole wing.
The underside is greenish with big silver strips. The margin is grey.
The body is brown.
Sex differences: The male has black strips on forewings.
Distribution
Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia) is a common butterfly of the Palaearctic ecozone (Europe and Asia). The distribution include whole Europe and Asia from Arctic circle to Iran, Pakistan and China. You can see the Silver-washed Fritillary until 1000 m sea level.
- This world map shows the ecozones in which this butterfly is distributed.
Flight period
The flight period of the Silver-washed Fritillary is from June to September.
Larval food
Viola, Blackberry, Raspberry
General information
The first description of this butterfly was in 1758 by Linnaeus. There are many subspecies.
- Argynnis paphia butleri [Krulikovsky, 1909]
- Argynnis paphia thalassata [Fruhstorfer, 1909]
- Argynnis paphia dives [Oberthür, 1908]
- Argynnis paphia argyrorrhytes [Seitz, 1909]
- Argynnis paphia delila [Röber, 1896]
- Argynnis paphia masandarensis [Gross & Ebert, 1975]
- Argynnis paphia pusilla [Wnukowsky, 1927]
- Argynnis paphia neopaphia [Fruhstorfer, 1907]
- Argynnis paphia virescens [Nakahara, 1926]
- Argynnis paphia geisha [Hemming, 1934]
- Argynnis paphia tsushimana [Fruhstorfer, 1906]
- Argynnis paphia megalegoria [Fruhstorfer, 1907]
- Argynnis paphia argyrophontes [Oberthür, 1923]
- Argynnis paphia formosicola [Matsumura]
The caterpillar is black with white strips and it has white thorns. The pupa has no silken girdl. This species overwinters as caterpillar.
Some of the females are dark and greenish. This dark form named valesina.
- Photo © by Mario Maier (Mario.Maier@butterflies.de)
Here you can see the dark form of female (Argynnis paphia f. valesina).
Protection provisions / Red List
- CITES: (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora):
-no entry- (as at 23.06.2005) - EU regulation on trading with species of wild Fauna and Flora
-no entry- (as at 19.08.2005) - IUCN Red List of threatened species:
-no entry- (as at 2004) (see: www.redlist.org/) - Red List of endangered species of Austria:
-no entry- (see: www.roteliste.at/) - Regulation of the Viennese regional government:
-protected as imago- (see: www.wien.gv.at/recht/landesrecht-wien/rechtsvorschriften/html/l4800200.htm
Similar and closely-related species
Childrena childreni [Gray, 1831] (Large Silverstripe, Großer Silberstrich) ASIA
Fabriciana adippe [Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775] (High Brown Fritillary, Märzfeilchenfalter)
Mesoacidalia aglaja [Linnaeus, 1758] (Dark Green Fritillary, Großer Perlmutterfalter, Le Grand Nacré)
Pandoriana pandora [Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775] (Cardinal, Grüner Silberstrich, Le Cardinal)
Scientific name
Argynnis paphia Linnaeus 1758
Synonym
Silver-washed Fritillary
Silberstrich, Kaisermantel
Tabac d'Espagne
Nacarada
Silversträckad pärlemorfjäril, Kejsarmantel
Keisarinviitta
Keizersmantel
Kejserkabe
Keiserkape
Dostojka malinowiec
Perlovec striebristopásavý
Classification / Taxonomy / Family tree
- Kingdom: ANIMALIA
- Phylum: ARTHROPODA
- Class: INSECTA
- Order: LEPIDOPTERA
- Suborder: DITRYSIA
- Superfamily: PAPILIONOIDAE
- Family: NYMPHALIDAE
- Subfamilie: HELICONIINAE
- Tribe: ARGYNNINI
- Genus: ARGYNNIS
- Specific name: PAPHIA
To the family tree (Genus: ARGYNNIS)...
Ecozone
Back to family Nymphalidae from PALAEARCTIC (EUROPE)
