File:Speyeria cybele (33765878076).jpg

English: I like this image because it reminds me of some unique behavioral characteristics of the larger Fritillary species in my area. They have an intimate relationship with tall and short grass prairies. More than once, I’ve stopped to sit down or tie-my shoe or whatever only to subsequent see this large orange and silver butterfly casually climb up out of the grass seemingly out of nowhere. Not entirely sure why they do it. But they seem to want to be on the surface of the ground at the base of the grass and prairie plants. Yeah, I’ve stuck my hand down there and it is cooler and oftentimes there is some moisture but there are also some spiders and what not that I have to think they can do without. One thing I’ve noticed down there is that there are often times violets growing at the base of it all. Violets being a host plant. But violets are seldom, if ever, at the base of restored prairie’s or grasslands. I’ve helped spread the seed at restoration projects, I’ve dug my hand down to the base of many a restored prairie. Folks just don’t think to add violets when they restore prairies. They include all the big show stoppers like indigo and compass plant, but not low growing violets. I’ve also witnessed grassy areas full of violets under conversion to a prairie where a smattering of Russian thistle, cow parsnip, and unwanted grass will earn the area a thorough dousing of herbicide. In such instances, that wipes out any violets whose folage my have been struggling out an existence underneath it all. If the same field had the same problem only with a smattering of indigo in it instead of violets I gotta think more care would have been given to the herbicide application. Finally, in my area, the larger Fritillary’s are sign of a healthy woodland ecosystem. Meaning, you may see them in the prairie but they have to go look for violets and they often find them (if any) in the woods. So it’s tragic for them when a prairie is restored but the adjoining forest is choked off with buckthorn, honeysuckle, soda berry, garlic mustard, etc. The longer they search for a host plant the more apt they are to fall prey. Worse still, mowing to control some invasive plants simply gives you short growing invasive plants. Sure the invasives don’t propagate when you mow, but neither when mowed do they give up the area they cover at the base of the plant. All in all, it’s tough being a fritillary and it isn’t getting any easier.