Saving the small things that run the planet
Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary
Fast Facts
Latin name: Boloria selene
Notable feature: Orange butterfly with black markings on the upperwing and white ‘pearls’ on the underwing. They have a black dot in the centre of the underwing.
Conservation Status: Vulnerable
Where in the UK: Mainly found in western areas of Britain across England, Scotland and Wales.
Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary (Boloria selene) © Charlotte Rankin
The Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary (Boloria selene) is an orange butterfly with distinct markings on its upperwings and underwings. It can be easily confused with the Pearl-bordered Fritillary (Boloria euphrosyne). One difference lies in the pearl borders on the underside of their wings. The Pearl-bordered Fritillary has seven pearls on the outer edge of their underwing and two further pearls in the middle and close to the body. Small Pearl-bordered Fritillaries have a mosaic of white, orange and brown markings on their underwing with a black dot in the centre. It’s much easier to identify this species when basking or feeding than flying.
The Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary was once widespread in Britain, occurring in woodland clearings, damp grassland, heaths and dunes. Now it is very rare in eastern Britain and absent from Ireland.
- Size: Wingspan 35-44mm (3.5-4.4cm)
- Life span: Annual lifecycle
- Diet: The caterpillars feed on violet species, particularly Common Dog-violet (Viola riviniana) and Marsh Violet (V. palustris). Adults will visit a range of flowers including brambles and thistles.
- Reproduction: The male butterfly will patrol over breeding sites in search of a mate. Mating happens quickly and low down in the vegetation. The female will then search for a suitable patch of violets on which to lay her eggs. The eggs are laid singly and are initially a pale yellow before turning grey prior to hatching. Once hatched, the caterpillars tend to avoid direct sunlight when not feeding.
- When to see: Adults fly from May to August.
- Population Trend: Declining
- Threats: The reduction in coppicing in woodlands, which creates the perfect habitat for the adult and encourages the growth of their foodplants, is one of the main causes of their decline.
- Fun Fact: The Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary emerges first in South West England in May and the timing of emergence moves gradually northwards. It doesn’t appear in Scotland until June.
How can you help:
Buglife is suporting the recovery of Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary populations through specific projects such as B-Lines, Pollinators Along the Tweed and Coal Spoil Connections but we need your help!
Find out how you can improve your gardens and community species for pollinators like the Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary by visiting our B-Lines page.
Get involved with the UK Butterfly monitoring scheme or download the iRecord app and get recording!
Do remember that we rely on donations to continue our work. If you have searched, found and learnt about our incredible invertebrates on our website, please do consider Making a Donation, Becoming a Member or maybe even making a purchase in our shop. For more ideas on how to support our work find out how to Get Involved. Thank you 🕷
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