Butterfly ID
Get the free app
Field guide · Sweden
Brush-footed butterflies · Sweden

Frigga Fritillary

Boloria frigga

A large fritillary with strong dark markings and a violet-tinged underside with little contrast. Its distribution is local in the south but more continuous in the mountains, and it is often common north of the Arctic Circle. The flight period is very short at each site.

Status in this countryLeast concern in SwedenLC (Least concern)
Frigga Fritillary
Photo: (c) allan5519, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY 4.0

Flight period

Very short local flight schedule: approximately June 10–15 in the south, normally until the last days of June to July 10 in Lapland.

Habitat

Open peat bogs and damp heatherlands with blueberries.

Identifying features

Wingspan 38–48 millimetres. On the upper side, the wings are yellowish-red with strong dark markings; the underside is violet-tinged and lacks contrast and borders. It is significantly larger than Dingy Fritillary.

Similar species

Similar to Lesser Marbled Fritillary (Brenthis ino), which is, however, smaller; it can also be confused with Dingy Fritillary (Boloria improba), which is considerably smaller.

Distribution

Location in southern Sweden, more consistent in the mountains, and often widespread from the polar circle northward.

Biology

The larvae feed on crowberries; in Lapland, possibly a two-year development cycle.