Family: Nymphalidae.

Flight Time: May - July.

Size: 64-80mm

Altitude: 500-1500m (2600m in N Africa)

The Cardinal is a large fritillary which has only one species similar to it, namely the Silver-washed fritillary Argynnis paphia. The green flushed upperside, see right, is a quick and easy way to tell the difference.

My first sighting of this species was in Morocco, it settled in a tree which was just in range of the camera, unfortunately the local children that were following us around decided it would be better if I had the butterfly and started throwing stones at it!

Fact File

Viola species

Woodland clearings.

Early Stages