This mid-sized Frit is an unusual find in mid-Ohio, not rare- but definitely considered icing-on-the-cake. Like all fritillary species, their primary host plant is probably violets but their "cats" also feed on Mayapples (Podophyllum peltata) and Moonseed (Menispernum sp.) Variegated Frits have an unusual squared-off appearance to their wings and more color contrast than their smaller cousins the Meadow Fritillaries or the bigger Great Spangled Fritillaries.
Ground zero for "Operation Variegated " is the Horsemen's Picnic area. Malabar has several areas where grass mowing is reduced in order to promote Wildlife Diversity, and the flourish of Variegated Frits found here (five in all) shows that reduced mowing works! This attractive shin-deep lawn of grasses and flowering forbs was alive with butterflies. And many of them appeared to be very freshly emerged!
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Jim Davidson, my co-leader for an Ohio Division of Wildlife Diversity field trip points out what we later realized was a recently emerged butterfly. Veteran butterfliers and "newbies" alike stood in awe as we watched this nearly flightless butterfly.
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...We barely recognized this as a Variegated Frit! None of us had ever seen the underside of these quick flying, elusive butterflies. Soon we realized this youngster was in the process of drying its recently expanded wings. Once a butterflies emerges from its chrysalis it must fill its wings with "fluids" pumped from its engorged body. A close look at this photo confirms the butterfly's abdomen has not yet expelled all the excess liquids. This is an extremely fragile time for a butterfly, as it wings are not yet hardened and the swollen abdomen must also contribute to a lack of flight. What a wonderful process to witness in the wild!
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This miracle of a flightless butterfly was brought to you by an un-mowed and chemical free lawn! Wildlife Diversity is a beautiful thing.
very cool to see new butterflies - thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteCheryl,
ReplyDeleteI should know this being raised in Ohio. Are these not common in Ohio? Here in NC we can find them by the hundreds in good open fields. I have a photo here of a fresh mated pair on red clover that is awesome. They are very hard to get a good photo of, moving around so much.
Cheryl,
ReplyDeleteOh here it is on this page
http://www.rlephoto.com/fritillaries/fritillary_variegated01.htm
Thanks Randy, that is an awesome photo. I have seen more Variegated Frits in the last week, than in my entire previous lifetime.
ReplyDeleteThe southern species have arrived in Ohio: Buckeyes, Var. Frits, and even Little Yellows. The only ones missing are Dogfaced and Cloudless Sulphurs- could you send them along too?