Marsh Fritillary

Euphydryas auriniaWingspan: Male 42mm – 48mm, female - size very variable 

Description
The upperwings are a mosaic of reddish-orange and yellow or white patches. The cells are divided by darker veins and cross lines. A single row of black dots is visible near the trailing edge of the hindwings. These dots are also visible on the underside. 

Your photographs 

Flight Period
May to June. 

Larval Food plants
Devil's-bit Scabious (Succisa pratensis)
Field Scabious (Knautia arvensis)
Small Scabious (Scabiosa columbaria) 

Habitat
Chalk downland and grassland. 

Wiltshire Status
Frequent/common, very local. 

Wiltshire Sites
Cotley Hill
Bentley Wood
Sidbury Hill
Pewsey Down 

Earliest sightings
Earliest county record 21^st April 2007, Cotley Hill (Nick Wynn) 

Latest county record
4^th July 1983