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| UK Status |
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| Resident |
A species which is continually Resident in the UK with stable breeding populations. |
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| Migrant |
A species which occurs as a Migrant in the UK. It may be able to breed here although they are usually unable to survive our winter months. Migrants are normally reported in the UK every year. |
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| Rare Migrant |
A species which occurs as a Rare Migrant in the UK. It may able to breed here although they are usually unable to survive our winter months. Rare Migrants may not be seen for many years. |
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| Extinct |
A species which is Extinct in the UK, usually as a result of habitat loss. |
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| Introduction |
A species which ocurs in the UK as an accidental introduction. |
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Description
The Pearl-bordered Fritillary is one of the earliest Fritillaries to be on the wing in the UK but is also one of the fastest declining species in the UK. They can be seen as early as April in woodland clearings or rough hillsides where Bracken occurs. They fly close to the ground stopping regularly to feed on spring flowers... a particular favourite being Bugle.
The Pearl-bordered Fritillary is very similar in appearance to the Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary however, the Pearl-bordered Fritillary has two large silver 'pearls' and row of seven outer 'pearls' on the underside of the hind wing, and also red chevrons (rather than black as found on the Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary) around the outer pearls.
The Pearl-bordered Fritillary is a Priority Species for conservation due to the continued loss of habitat and resulting drop in population.
Habitat
Woodland clearings in recently coppiced or clear-felled woodland dry habitats with varied areas of grass dense bracken, and in Scotland light scrub or deciduous wood-pasture.
Wherever it is found, there must be abundant larval food plant growing in short, sparse vegetation, where there is abundant leaf litter, especially dead Bracken.
The reduction in distribution of this species is primarily due to a decrease in coppicing in woodland, a loss of open areas in forests and inappropriate habitat management.
Larval Food Plants
Common Dog Violet (Viola riviniana) Heath Dog Violet (Viola canina) Marsh Violet (Viola palustris).
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| Stock Photography Library |
| We have 22 photographs of the Pearl-bordered Fritillary in the British Butterflies photo library |
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BB648 - Pearl-bordered Fritillary
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BB647 - Pearl-bordered Fritillary
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BB646 - Pearl-bordered Fritillary
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BB645 - Pearl-bordered Fritillary
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BB644 - Pearl-bordered Fritillary
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BB643 - Pearl-bordered Fritillary
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BB642 - Pearl-bordered Fritillary
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BB641 - Pearl-bordered Fritillary
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| Distribution |
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The Pearl-bordered Fritillary was once very widespread in the UK but has declined rapidly over the last few decades due to habitat loss. It is now highly threatened in England and Wales and extinct in large parts of its former range. Its current rate of loss across the UK stands at up to 40% per decade in some locations.
It still occurs in the limestone hills of the Morecambe Bay region North Lancashire and South Cumbria. In Scotland the Highland and Grampian regions are the best areas for this species but it can also be found in Perthshire and Dumfries and Galloway. It is however declining in numbers... but less so than in England and Wales where significant losses have occured. |
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| Where to see the Pearl-bordered Fritillary |
The Pearl-bordered Fritillary was once very widespread in the UK but has declined rapidly over the last few decades due to habitat loss. It is now highly threatened in England and Wales and extinct in large parts of its former range. Its current rate of loss across the UK stands at up to 40% per decade in some locations.
It still occurs in the limestone hills of the Morecambe Bay region North Lancashire and South Cumbria. In Scotland the Highland and Grampian regions are the best areas for this species but it can also be found in Perthshire and Dumfries and Galloway. It is however declining in numbers... but less so than in England and Wales where significant losses have occured.
Key sites for the Pearl-bordered Fritillary include:
Gloucestershire: Cirencester Park (reported as being one of the largest woodland populations in England)
Lancashire: Gait Barrows NNR, Eaves Wood, Warton Crag
Worcestershire: Wyre Valley, Wyre Forest
Devon: Castle Drogo, Haldon Forest
Other site: Eyarth Rocks (nr Ruthin) and Cwm Soden (West Wales) |
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| Population Trends |
| species status |
the Pearl-bordered Fritillary is a resident species in Britain |
| population trend1 |
(1995-2004)  down by -51% |
(1976-2004) down by -66% |
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1Fox, R., Asher. J., Brereton. T., Roy, D & Warren, M.
(2006) The State of Butterflies in Britain & Ireland, Pices, Oxford. |
| UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) Status |
| UK BAP status2 |
priority species (link) |
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| 2 For more information about the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) species status, visit www.ukbap.org.uk. |
| IUCN Category Status |
| IUCN category3 |
 endangered4 |
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3 Fox, R., Warren, M & Brereton, T.
(2007) New Red List of British Butterflies. Butterfly Conservation, Wareham.
4 More information about IUCN categories available here. |
| Find Out More Online* |
| More information about the Pearl-bordered Fritillary can be found on Peter Eeles excellent UK Butterflies web site. |
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Aberrations and Forms |
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| We currently know of 17 named aberrant forms of the Pearl-bordered Fritillary. More information about aberrants can be found here. |
 ab. albinea - Lambillion (1898) |
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| ab. albomaculata - Goodson (1959) |
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| ab. atermaginalis - Frohawk (1938) |
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| ab. conducta - Nordström (1933) |
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| ab. edna - Lobb (1953) |
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| ab. luteus - Frohawk (1938) |
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| ab. melanoradiata - Goodson (1966) |
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| ab. nigricans - Oberthür (1923) |
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| ab. nigricosta - Goodson (1966) |
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| ab. nigromarginata - Goodson (1966) |
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| ab. pallida - Spuler (1901) |
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| ab. parvipunctata - Oberthür (1923) |
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| ab. pittionii - Nitsche (1926) |
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| ab. plumbea - Cockayne (1924) |
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| ab. rinaldus - Herbst (1800) |
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| ab. stramineus - Frohawk (1938) |
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| ab. tatrica - Aigner (1906) |
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| References |
| The information on this web site comes from a variety of freely available resources including books, academic reports and web sites alongside my own personal observations of butterflies. The species descriptions are currently in the process of being edited (spring 2009) to include new data, recent personal observations and referencing following a major update to the site.
A complete list of references mentioned in the text on this web site is available here. |
| * External Links Disclaimer |
| This web site includes links to information provided by external web sites which are not in any way under the control of www.britishbutterflies.co.uk. We cannot, therefore, be held responsible for the content of external web pages. |
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38-47mm
