Dark Green Fritillary (Argynnis aglaja)

A very beautiful butterfly with bright orange wings with dark brown markings. Primarily coastal in bracken covered areas but there are inland colonies on some bracken covered hillsides. Prime sites are the Calf of Man, Chasms and the Ayres. Single brooded and can be seen from early June through to early August, with a tendency in recent years to being seen earlier in the recorded flight period rather than later. The caterpillar foodplant is Dog Violet which is one of the few plants that can grow in the company of bracken, hence the association with bracken covered habitat. Overwinters as a tiny caterpillar which enters hibernation immediately upon hatching and does not commence feeding until the following spring.

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