The Meadow Fritillary is a species of brushfoot butterfly typically found in Tennessee only at higher elevations, such as in the Appalachian Mountains. When the wings are open, the upper tip of the forewings appears squared off, a distinguishing feature. Both the forewings and hindwings display a reddish-orange background heavily marked with black spots and lines.

When the wings are closed, the underside of the hindwings shows a rich mosaic of orange and purplish brown tones, accented by an off white basal patch near the body. This cryptic coloration helps the butterfly blend in with leaf litter and low vegetation in its open meadow and woodland edge habitats.

 

“Meadow Fritillary” by Pauline Rosenberg, licensed under (CC BY-NC 2.0)

 

Meadow Fritillary Facts

Butterfly Family: Brush-footed Butterflies (Nymphalidae)

Butterfly Subfamily: Heliconiinae

Butterfly Wingspan: 1 3/8 – 2 inches

Butterfly Habitat: Wet, open places like streamsides, pastures, and fields

 

🪴 Host Plants

These are the plants where Meadow Fritillary females lay eggs and caterpillars feed:

• Canada Violet (Viola canadensis)

• Common Blue Violet (Viola sororia)

• Northern White Violet (Viola pallens)

 

🌸 Nectar Plants

Adult Meadow Fritillary butterflies feed on nectar from the following native flowers:

• Asters (Symphyotrichum spp.)
• Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
• Blazing Star (Liatris spp.)
• Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
• Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)
• Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
• Goldenrods (Solidago spp.)
• Ironweed (Vernonia spp.)
• Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium spp.)
• Ox-eye Daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare)
• Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
• Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)
• Thistles (Cirsium spp.)
• Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)