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Field guide · Denmark
Brush-footed butterflies · Denmark

Niobe fritillary

Fabriciana niobe

Niobe fritillary is relatively rare in Denmark. The wingspan is 43-57 mm. The flight period is from June to August. Niobe fritillary typically flies in heathlands, grasslands, dunes, and other dry, sandy locations.

Status in this countryRelatively rare in DenmarkNT (Near threatened)
Niobe fritillary

Flight period

The flight period is from June to August. The larval period is from April to May.

Habitat

Niobe fritillary typically flies on heathland, grassland, dunes and other dry, sandy sites. At several places on Zealand it flew in dry woodland clearings in the early 1900s.

Identifying features

Wingspan is 43-57 mm. The upperside is orange, with a profusion of black spots, patterns, and sharply defined marginal spots.

Similar species

Niobe fritillary can easily be confused with Dark green fritillary and (especially) High brown fritillary. Dark green fritillary, however, has a very distinctive greenish underside on its hindwings, whereas Niobe fritillary only has a faint green-brown dusting.

Distribution

Niobe fritillary formerly occurred at many sites in North, Northwest and South Zealand, but since the 1970s it has largely only been recorded at Melby Overdrev (Northeast Zealand), Lumsås and Korevlerne (northern West Zealand). The last confirmed record on Zealand was made at Melby Overdrev in 1989.

Biology

Niobe fritillary is an enthusiastic flower visitor that is not picky in its choice of nectar plants. It is a fast and powerful flyer that can be difficult to follow.