Life
Cycle of the Silver-washed
fritillary
Ovum:
The conical pale green-yellow eggs are c.1.0 mm in height and are
laid singly in crevices of the bark of trees,
among mosses and lichens, about a metre from the ground and close
to the foodplant in July and August.
They hatch in c.2 weeks.
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© DHardimam
2009 |
Larva:
After eating part of its eggshell, the tiny larva
immediately goes into hibernation, overwintering
in
crevices of the tree trunk, and becoming active again the following April. It descends to
the ground in search of
its foodplant and feeds by day on violet leaves in sunny pockets of the woods and
hedgerows until fully grown
towards
the end of May.
After spending c.10 months as the larva it enters pupation.
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© DHardimam
2002 |
Pupa:
The pupa is well camouflaged and looking like a withered leaf is difficult to find. It is suspended among dead
vegetation from a silk pad by its cremasteral hooks. This stage
lasts c.2-3 weeks.
Adult:
Adults emerge and are on the wing from mid-June to mid-September.
During this time they feed, mate
and the female oviposits.
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Male |
Female |
Silver-washed
Fritillaries mating |
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Female
Male
© DHardimam |
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