Regal Fritillary (LEP104) Speyeria idalia

 

     This is the largest fritillary and also one of the most specialized.  It prefers virgin prairies, which has made it rare ans such have been disturbed in the Great Plains and to the east.  The drawing shows it perching with its wings closed and showing an olive hindwing spattered with large silver spots.  The forewing is very bright orange with black marks and more silver around its edges