Map of area covered for records
Butterfly Survey 1976-2020
Dark Green Fritillary
Dark Green Fritillary m
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Dark Green Fritillary f
Wingspan - 60 mm
The dark green fritillary is one of the UK's most beautiful of the larger butterflies and is to be found on the downland ridge from Eynsford and Shoreham through to Otford and on the other side of the valley on the Lullingstone Golf Course. It is also present in High Elms, but the oddity was the one I saw in the ninteen seventies late in the season at Ruxley Corner - on the wildlife reserve. This was repeated this year 2019 when I photographed a male dark green fritillary on Bromley Common, Rookery Elmfield chasing bird shadows, which might account for its dissorientation and range change.
The flashing golden appearance and direct flight is unmistakable on the downs where it flys among the tall grasses and scabious. The first time I discovered this butterfly was following a tumble from my racing cycle on the road overlooking Castle Farm. I also have a pinned specimen that died feeding on burdock head.
Habit: ranges far and wide over downland where violet, its foodplant grows.
Single brooded: over winters as a first instar larvae, wherupon it hibernates, emerging in spring to feed until pupation in late May or early June, where it is spun up in a web of leaves and ground litter.
Status: Local steady, numbers fluctuate, but probably diminished from former times in certain local areas.
WH - White Hill Shoreham Fack -Fackended, BC - Bromley Common, Ha - Hayes --BN -Bromley North , Ey- Eynsford (in Prestons), Lull - Lullingstone Golf Course, Orp - Orpington
Thanks to: Fred O'Hare, Howard Walmsley, David Davis, Chris Borrows and all the other recorders who submit records, or blog in our area.
©R Compton