Silver-washed fritillary

Argynnis paphia
Silver-washed fritillary
Photo: Uoaei1, CC BY-SA, Wikimedia Commons
Silver-washed fritillary
Photo: Richard Bartz, Munich aka Makro Freak, CC BY-SA, Wikimedia Commons
Silver-washed fritillary
Photo: Andreas Eichler, CC BY-SA, Wikimedia Commons

About

The Silver-washed fritillary is one of the largest and most noticeable butterflies of the summer forest. In Ukraine, it is found almost everywhere, except for the treeless areas in the southern steppe, and in the Carpathians, it is easiest to see in sunny forest clearings, edges, and along forest roads, where brambles, thistles, cornflowers, and other nectar-rich plants bloom — the adults feed on their nectar.

Wingspan is 55–70 mm; males are smaller and lighter than females. The upper side of the wings is bright orange with black spots, and males have three dark stripes along the veins of the forewings with fragrant scales, the scent of which attracts females. The butterfly gets its name from the underside of the hindwings: it is greenish with wide silvery stripes that shimmer when the butterfly folds its wings.

Interestingly, the Silver-washed fritillary takes care of its offspring. The caterpillar feeds on the leaves of violets, but the female lays eggs not on them, but in the crevices of tree bark at a height of one to two meters above the forest floor, near places where violets grow. The caterpillar that hatches in August immediately goes into hibernation and only descends to the ground in spring to search for food. It is black-brown, with two yellow stripes along its back and long reddish-brown spines; it mostly feeds at night and hides during the day.

The Silver-washed fritillary is not listed in the Red Book of Ukraine. Its most important habitats are light forests with clearings where violets grow for the caterpillars and nectar-bearing flowers for the butterflies.

Where in the Carpathians

fewermore1 031 records in the Carpathians

The map shows where naturalists recorded the species (GBIF, CC0 and CC BY records), not every place it lives. The Ukrainian Carpathians are less studied, so a blank area does not mean the species is absent.

Countries
Hungary · Romania · Slovakia · Austria · Ukraine · Poland · Czechia
Mountain ranges
Bükk, Mátra, Börzsöny and Cserhát, Zemplén Mountains, High Tatras, Piatra Craiului, Slovak Ore Mountains, Vrancea Mountains, Western Tatras, Bihor-Vlădeasa Mountains
Altitude belts
Foothills (below 600 m) · Beech forests (600–1200 m)

When to see it

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Sightings

From naturalists’ observations in the Carpathians (iNaturalist, research grade): the darker the cell, the more often the species is seen that month.

Protection and rules

Not listed in the Red Book of Ukraine.

Red Data Book of Ukraine

FAQ

What is the large orange butterfly in the forest clearings?

Often it is the Silver-washed fritillary: orange wings with black spots, and silvery stripes on the underside of the hindwings.

What does the caterpillar of the Silver-washed fritillary feed on?

On the leaves of violets. The female lays eggs in the crevices of tree bark nearby, and the caterpillar descends to the violets in spring.

Similar species

European peacockEuropean peacockAglais ioA bright butterfly with four 'eyes' on its wings. It hibernates as an adult, so it flies as early as spring; the caterpillar lives on nettles.
Old World swallowtailOld World swallowtailPapilio machaonA large yellow and black butterfly with 'tails' on its hindwings. The caterpillar lives on wild carrot, dill, and other umbellifers.
ApolloRed Data Book of UkraineApolloParnassius apolloThe large white butterfly with red 'eyes' is a symbol of mountain nature. It has likely disappeared from the Ukrainian Carpathians.

Where to meet it

Trails

No. 500 Skole – Hurkalo waterfallEasyOne-dayMarkedNo. 500 Skole Hurkalo waterfallElevation profile424–816 m7.5 kmascent 428 m≈ 2.5 h walkingNo. 500 Dubyna – Mount Kliuch – Dovbush RocksModerateTwo-dayMarkedNo. 500 Dubyna Dovbush Rocksvia Mount KliuchElevation profile418–929 m18.7 kmascent 778 m≈ 6 h walkingSkole – Mount Lopata – SkoleModerateTwo-daySkole loopvia Mount LopataElevation profile437–1 242 m14.9 kmascent 972 m≈ 5.5 h walkingNo. 501 Skole – Dovbush RocksHardTwo-dayMarkedNo. 501 Skole Dovbush RocksElevation profile437–921 m20.4 kmascent 987 m≈ 7 h walkingSkole, via Mount Lopata to Kamianka WaterfallModerateTwo-daySkole to Kamianka Waterfallvia Mount LopataElevation profile447–1 211 m18 kmascent 823 m≈ 6 h walkingSkole – Mount Lopata – SkoleModerateTwo-dayMarkedSkole loopvia Mount LopataElevation profile437–1 211 m17.3 kmascent 766 m≈ 6 h walking
Skole – Mount Lopata – SkoleModerateTwo-dayMarkedSkole loopvia Mount LopataElevation profile437–1 211 m15.2 kmascent 771 m≈ 5.5 h walkingDubyna village, via Kamianka Waterfall, Mount Lopata and Mount Matahiv to Tukhlia villageHardMulti-dayDubyna village to Tukhlia villagevia Kamianka Waterfall, Mount Lopata +1Elevation profile418–1 233 m38.8 kmascent 1 600 m≈ 13 h walkingSkole, via Mount Lopata and Kamianka Waterfall to Dubyna villageHardMulti-daySkole to Dubyna villagevia Mount Lopata, Kamianka WaterfallElevation profile418–1 211 m25.7 kmascent 986 m≈ 8.5 h walkingNo. 5010 «To the bunker of the OUN-UPA propaganda centre»ModerateOne-dayMarkedNo. 5010 «To the bunker of the OUN-UPA propaganda centre»Elevation profile399–906 m10.5 kmascent 704 m≈ 4 h walkingSkole, via Mount Parashka and Hurkalo Waterfall to Korchyn villageHardTwo-dayMarkedSkole to Korchyn villagevia Mount Parashka, Hurkalo WaterfallElevation profile400–1 268 m22 kmascent 964 m≈ 7.5 h walkingSkole – Mount ParashkaModerateOne-dayMarkedSkole Mount ParashkaElevation profile450–1 268 m9.1 kmascent 930 m≈ 4 h walking

Waters and waterfalls

Lake Zhuravlyne (Dead Lake)LakeLake Zhuravlyne (Dead Lake)KamiankaThere is one mysterious place in the Skole Beskydy National Nature Park - Zhuravlyne Lake, also called Dead Lake.Svicha RiverRiverSvicha RiverVyhodaThe Svicha is a 107-km right-bank tributary of the Dniester. It rises on the northern slopes of the main Gorgany...Kamianka waterfallWaterfallKamianka waterfallDubyna"Kamianka Waterfall or Kamianka Waterfall is the most famous waterfall located on the mountain river of the same name...Opir RiverRiverOpir RiverSkoleThe Opir is a 58-km mountain river of the Skole Beskids. It rises on the eastern slope of Mount Velykyi Yavirnyk,...Tysa River (Tisza)RiverTysa River (Tisza)RakhivThe Tysa (Tisza) is the main river of Zakarpattia. It begins on the north-eastern edge of Rakhiv, where the Chorna...Narinetskyi waterfall, MykulychynWaterfallNarinetskyi waterfall, MykulychynMykulychynNarinetskyi Waterfall is a waterfall in the Ukrainian Carpathians, on the Noretskyi Stream (a left tributary of the...
Zhenetsky Hook waterfallWaterfallZhenetsky Hook waterfallMykulychynZhenetskyi Huk is one of the most convenient Carpathian waterfalls for tourists, as it is accessible by a direct,...Bukovinian (Smugar) waterfallsWaterfallBukovinian (Smugar) waterfallsRoztokyA picturesque chain of waterfalls, up to two kilometers long, stretches along the Smuhariv River in Bukovyna, in the...Mikva waterfallWaterfallMikva waterfallVyzhenkaThe Mykva Waterfall is a small but very picturesque waterfall located in the village of Vyzhenka, Chernivtsi region.

Mountain ranges: Maramureș Mountains. In other countries: 🇭🇺 Bükk, 🇭🇺 Mátra, 🇭🇺 Börzsöny and Cserhát, 🇭🇺 Zemplén Mountains, 🇸🇰 High Tatras, 🇷🇴 Piatra Craiului, 🇸🇰 Slovak Ore Mountains, 🇷🇴 Vrancea Mountains, 🇸🇰 Western Tatras, 🇷🇴 Bihor-Vlădeasa Mountains, 🇷🇴 Mehedinți and Cerna Mountains, 🇷🇴 Harghita and Gurghiu Mountains, 🇷🇴 Nemira and Bodoc Mountains

Trails and peaks near which naturalists recorded the species (GBIF, iNaturalist), matched by altitude and habitat. Sightings are not guaranteed.

Sources

GBIF · iNaturalist · Wikidata · Distribution data: GBIF.org (CC0 and CC BY records), iNaturalist; names and identifiers: Wikidata (CC0). Text: Karpaty.rocks, checked 09.11.2026.