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Dark Green Fritillary · Field Guide · Things With Wings

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Dark Green Fritillary

Argynnis aglaja

Not yet photographed by the community

Fast-flying fritillary of coastal and upland grassland.

Species Profile

Nationally Scarce; declining in the UK due to habitat loss and fragmentation; listed as Priority Species under UK Biodiversity Action Plan.

Lifespan: 2–3 weeks as an adult butterfly; pupae overwinter and emerge in summer
Size & Weight: Wingspan 50–56 mm
Habitat: Open, sunny grassland with sparse vegetation, including chalk and limestone downland, moorland edges, and coastal cliffs where violets thrive.
UK Distribution: Southern England, primarily found on the South Downs, Cotswolds, and scattered locations in Wales and southern Scotland; a summer visitor appearing July to August, occasionally arriving earlier in warm years.
Diet: Adults feed on nectar from thistles, knapweed, and other wildflowers; caterpillars feed exclusively on violets, particularly Hairy Violet (Viola hirta) and Common Dog-violet (Viola riviniana).
Predators: Robber flies, spiders, and insectivorous birds such as redstarts and warblers; parasitoid wasps attack caterpillars and pupae.
Mating Season: July to August
Breeding: Females lay eggs singly on violet leaves and stems; eggs hatch after approximately 2 weeks; caterpillars feed for 4–5 weeks before pupating; single annual generation with overwinter diapause in the pupal stage.

Sources and editorial status

The short identification summary comes from the Things With Wings species catalogue. The extended species profile is AI-assisted and has not been individually reviewed by a wildlife expert, so verify important identification or conservation details with the specialist sources below.

Profile generated 22 June 2026

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