Boloria polaris

Boloria polaris, the Polaris fritillary, is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae. It is found in northernmost Scandinavia, North America (in northeastern Alaska and northern Canada) and in Greenland. It is also found in northeastern Russia. It is one of only six butterfly species found on Canada's Ellesmere Island.

Boloria polaris
Boloria polaris in Seitz 71e
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Genus: Boloria
Species:
B. polaris
Binomial name
Boloria polaris
Boisduval, 1828

The wingspan is 32–38 mm. A. polaris Bsd. (71e). Similar to the preceding species [ freija, but more variable, the hindwing beneath more variegated, the black median band of the forewing above heavy, deep black, deeply sinuous proximally. In the marginal area regular rows of submarginal spots. The forewing beneath almost as distinctly marked with black as above, but paler. On the hindwing beneath the ground is marked with mother-of-pearl in the basal area and the narrow band which separates the central from the marginal area bears silvery teeth. —In Norway, Finland, Lapponia, in July and August. The butterfly flies from June to August depending on the location.[1]

The exact food plants are unknown, but in Canada, larvae have been found on Vaccinium uliginosum and Dryas species.

Subspecies

The following subspecies are recognized:

  • Boloria polaris erda (central and eastern Siberia)
  • Boloria polaris kurentzovi (Chukotka Autonomous Okrug and Wrangel island in Siberia)
  • Boloria polaris polaris (northern Scandinavia, Greenland and North America)

References
  1. Seitz. A. in Seitz, A. ed. Band 1: Abt. 1, Die Großschmetterlinge des palaearktischen Faunengebietes, Die palaearktischen Tagfalter, 1909, 379 Seiten, mit 89 kolorierten Tafeln (3470 Figuren) This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.


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