Aphrodite Fritillary
Speyeria aphrodite
July 18, 2015
 


  This has been a pretty good summer for me, inasmuch as I've photographed (for me) a few new butterflies, including the Aphrodite fritillary (Speyeria aphrodite).
 
Aphrodite fritillary
 
  The identification came as a surprise to me: I thought it was a great-spangled fritillary. The excellent resource site Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA) sent me a correction.

Below you can see an extra black spot on the forewing and close to the body, which distinguishes the Aphrodite fritillary.

 
Aphrodite fritillary
 
  The Aphrodite fritillary is considered somewhat more colorful than its look-alike great-spangled fritillary.
 
Aphrodite fritillary
 
  With backlighting, though, any butterfly becomes dramatic.

Photo note: I used the Pentax K3, with the SMC-A* 200mm macro lens, for the photos, taken during June 2015.



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