Endangered Resources Program Species Information
Arctic Fritillary (Boloria chariclea)
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Overview
Species Overview
There is no overview information available for that species.
Status and NHI Documented Occurrences in Wisconsin
The table below provides information about the protected status (State and Federal Status) and the rank (S and G Ranks) for Arctic Fritillary (Boloria chariclea). See the Working List Key for more information about the abbreviations used. Counties shaded blue have documented occurrences for this species in the Wisconsin Natural Heritage Inventory database. For invertebrates, dots depict locations from the "Invertebrate Atlas," a database with occurrences of rare and common aquatic and select terrestrial invertebrate species found in Wisconsin and adjacent areas. While the invertebrate atlas is a quality assured database, not all records have been verified. The map is provided as a general reference of where this species has been found to date and is not meant as a range map.
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Detailed Information
Identification: Wings are orange-brown with dark markings. The underside of the hindwing has thin white spots topped with brown; inwardly pointing triangles are black with little or no white areas. The scalloped median band is purplish to pale yellow-brown with a submarginal row of black spots. A good view of the underside of the hindwing is necessary for identification. Wingspan: 39-44mm. Length of forewing: 20-22 mm. The larvae are grey with orange spines and black bands (Layberry et al. 1998).
Similar Species: The August flight period distinguishes it from the other similar bog-obligate Boloria, which fly in May to mid June. The upperside of the silver-bordered fritillary (Boloria selene) looks similar, but the underside hindwing is marked with prominent silver spots.
Habitat: Spruce bogs ranging from hummocky, sparsely timbered sites to those with fair tree cover. Sometimes present in more mineral-rich sites supporting bog willow and bog birch. Most Wisconsin sites have large open areas of sphagnum mat associated with black spruce bog forest.
Nectar Source: Observed in Wisconsin nectaring on a variety of plants including yarrow, joe pyeweed (Eupatorium maculatum), common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), brown-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta), and goldenrod (Solidago spp.) (Perkins, 2003). Ferge reports Spiraea spp. and fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium).
Host Plant: Violets (Viola), scrub willows (Salix spp.), and possibly blueberries (Vaccinium spp.). Possibly bog willow (Salix pedicellaris) in Wisconsin. Salix arctica and perhaps S. herbacea are recorded hostplants in Manitoba (Scott 1986) and eastern Canada (Opler and Krizek 1984) but these species do not occur in Wisconsin.
Associated Species: Flying at the same time is the silver-bordered fritillary (Boloria selene) from which it is indistinguishable in flight. However, silver-bordered fritillaries beat their wings rapidly in a choppy flight while the Arctic fritillary has a slower wingbeat and often soars between wingbeats (Perkins 2003).
State Distribution: Douglas County. Very localized though may be abundant where they are found.
Global Distribution: Circumboreal. The species chariclea occurs from Greenland throughout Canada and into the U.S.; Alaska, Washington, Oregon and south through the Rocky Mountain region to New Mexico. Eastern populations occur in Northern Maine, New Hampshire, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Threats: Disruption of bog hydrology, loss of roadside and bog edge nectar sources due to inappropriate mowing or road construction.
Phenology: Flight begins around late July in northern Wisconsin and has been recorded as late as August 20.
Life History: Univoltine. Eggs are laid in late summer. Oviposition sites in Wisconsin have yet to be established, but possibly may be in the leaf litter near the foodplants or on the underside of leaves. Young larvae hibernate.
Survey Guidance: Usually found on flowers along roadways on upland near or adjoining the bog habitat. Expect to net individuals for close inspection of the underside. New county records should be documented with voucher specimens.
Inventory, Monitoring and Research Needs: Search for additional localities in Northwestern Wisconsin and verify the larval hostplant.
Additional Information: Recent revisionary studies have found that the name Boloria titania refers to populations restricted to Europe. All North American populations previously referred to as B. titania are now B. chariclea, the arctic fritillary (Layberry et al., 1998). Wisconsin populations of the arctic fritillary belong to the subspecies grandis.
Information originally presented as part of the Online Field Guide to Rare Lepidoptera: Bogs and Barrens.
Photos
No additional photos are available for Arctic Fritillary at this time.
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