The Regal Fritillary

Speyeria idalia Drury

Color:

S. idalia has a black body with orange upper wings and dark brown lower wings (the two lower wings of the Regal Fritillary cast an iridescent blue color in direct sunlight). The two upper wings have black bands, laterally, with white markings on each. Additionally, there are distinctive black-brown markings on each of the two upper wings. On the lower wings, there are two rows of white markings, one near the center of each wing and the other at the edge. The female is distinguished from the male by having a pale yellow band, instead of white, laterally (Klots, 1979, 86).

Size:

The Regal Fritillary is 3.4-3.6 inches in width (Klots, 1979, 86), and 3.5-3.8 inches in height.