Boloria selene
Silver-bordered Fritillary
Range:
The species is holarctic, which means it can be found
in the northern temperate
regions of the entire Northern Hemisphere. In North America, it ranges from
central Alaska southeast across Canada to Newfoundland, and from the eastern
half of Washington, south along the Rockies and east across the northern half
of the U.S. In Idaho, it occurs primarily in the center of the state, but
may also be found in much of the north and in patches of the southeast.
Habitat:
This species prefers wet to moist areas, including bogs, marshes,
and wet meadows.
Diet:
Caterpillar:
The caterpillars eat the leaves of various species of violets (Viola
spp.).
Adult:
The butterflies use flower nectar for food, often frequenting flowers in
the sunflower family (Asteraceae) such as goldenrod (Solidago spp.),
and verbena (Verbena spp.) in the verbena family (Verbenaceae).
Ecology:
There can be one to three generations of caterpillars each
summer, depending on the climate. The harsh environments of high elevations
and the arctic allow for only one generation in a given year. Young caterpillars
overwinter in a physiological state called diapause,
and emerge in the spring to feed, molt, and eventually pupate. Adults generally fly from late May through
mid-September.
Reproduction:
Males actively patrol
in search of receptive females. Females lay eggs singly on randomly selected
plants, often near but rarely on violets.
Conservation:
![]() |
![]() |
Global Rank: | G5; populations are widespread, abundant, and secure. |
Opler, P. A., H. Pavulaan, and R. E. Stanford. 1995. Butterflies of North America. Jamestown, North Dakota, USA: Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center Home Page. http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/distr/lepid/bflyusa/bflyusa.htm (Version 05Nov98).
Opler, P. A. and A. B.Wright. 1999. A Field Guide to the Western Butterflies. Second Edition. Peterson Field Guide Series. Houghton Mifflin Company, New York, New York, USA, 540 pp.
Pyle, R. M. 1981. National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Butterflies. Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., New York, New York, USA, 924 pp.
Scott, J. A. 1986. The Butterflies of North America. Stanford University Press, Stanford, California, USA, 583 pp.
Stanford, R. E. and P. A. Opler. 1993. Atlas of Western U.S.A. Butterflies (Including Adjacent Parts of Canada and Mexico). Published by authors, Denver, Colorado, USA, 275 pp.