Butterflies and Moths of North America

collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera

  Sighting 1325830

Regal Fritillary
Speyeria idalia

Observation date: July 19, 1981
Submitted by: James Steen
Specimen type: Sighting
Observation notes: An old scanned photo I took in 1981. The area I collected this male Speyeria idalia was just adjacent to an untouched prairie field, high off side of sandy road. All along the road bloomed Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa). Each milkweed plant had five+ S. idalia each feeding on them. Males out numbered females that day easily 10 to 1, the two females I observed never feeded but darted to and from the fields. All the S. idalia flying were very freshly hatched. The S. c. cybele was also taken that day. Not sure if that area still holds populations of S. idalia, I need to check. This specimen was brought back from the collection site to my residence.
Status: Resident
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: May 30, 2022
Coordinator notes: None.
Checklist region(s): United States, Kansas, Reno County