Butterfly ID
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Field guide · Sweden
Brush-footed butterflies · Sweden

Freija Fritillary

Boloria freija

A muted yellowish-red fritillary butterfly with large black spots and heavy dark dusting from the wing base. It occurs in Uppland, Västmanland, and Värmland, locally in the south, and more widely in the north.

Status in this countryLeast concern in SwedenLC (Least concern)
Freija Fritillary
Photo: (c) Syd Cannings, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY 4.0

Flight period

From the first week of May through the beginning of June; on the mountain during June–July.

Habitat

Open peat bogs and mountain heaths.

Identifying features

Wingspan 34–44 millimetres. On top, the wings are muted yellowish-red with large black spots and heavy dark dusting from the wing base. The white wing margins are sharply white and black-edged, triangular and not T-shaped.

Similar species

Can be confused with Purplish Fritillary (Boloria chariclea) and Arctic Fritillary (Boloria polaris); Freija Fritillary has sharply white, black-edged spots and triangular, not T-shaped, edge spots.

Distribution

Occurs from Uppland, Västmanland, and Värmland in the north; locally in the south, more widespread in the north.

Biology

The larvae feed on, among other things, cranberry, lingonberries, and bog rosemary.