Great Spangled Fritillary (Speyeria cybele)
Simplified identification for the three lookalikes... Aphrodite, Atlantis and Great Spangled Fritillary.
Great Spangled is the largest and the most common of the three Fritillaries. She is not picky about the habitat and can be found in the metro area around Washington as well as in the Maryland and West Virginia mountains. Her distinguishing mark is a wide submarginal band on her ventral hindwing with the spangles firmly anchored in the wide band. Some field guides also mention that the dorsal color is dark brown near her body and she lacks the postbasal black dot. (although this seems to be a point of discussion lately)
Great Spangled Fritillary (Speyeria cybele)
Simplified identification for the three lookalikes... Aphrodite, Atlantis and Great Spangled Fritillary.
Great Spangled is the largest and the most common of the three Fritillaries. She is not picky about the habitat and can be found in the metro area around Washington as well as in the Maryland and West Virginia mountains. Her distinguishing mark is a wide submarginal band on her ventral hindwing with the spangles firmly anchored in the wide band. Some field guides also mention that the dorsal color is dark brown near her body and she lacks the postbasal black dot. (although this seems to be a point of discussion lately)