The Great Spangled Fritillary is one of the largest fritillaries in eastern North America, with rich tawny-orange wings and a spectacular silver-spotted undersurface on the hindwing. Adults do not emerge until mid-summer but are then abundant on milkweed, coneflowers, and thistles. The larvae hatch in fall and overwinter before feeding on violets the following spring.
Best time to see a Great Spangled Fritillary
The best time to see a Great Spangled Fritillary is May–July, when about 69% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 45,483 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
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