EPOW - Ecology Picture of the Week

Fritillary in the Prairie

Coronis Fritillary (Speyeria coronis), Family Nymphalidae
Mountain Daisy (Erigeron peregrinus), Family Asteraceae
Peterson Prairie, Washington USA

Explanation:  In southeast Washington State, not too far from Mount St. Helens, stretches a wonderful natural landscape known as Peterson Prairie.  Alighting on a mountain daisy, here in the western Cascade Mountains, was this common butterfly of the montane environments, a Coronis Fritillary.  

On this bright August day, this individual was nectaring on the daisy, as they commonly do on composites, thistles, and other plants.  

This tired individual was barely moving,
having expended its adult life and energy,
but hopefully not before its egg-laying efforts were successful.
Note how ragged are the wing edges.
I released it back to its foraging work.

Peterson Prairie in southwest Washington State, USA,
It is October in this photo, and the greenery of grasses and herbs
have gone into their post-growth state of autumnal dormancy.
But this is a vibrant ecosystem nonetheless,
with plant and insect species galore.

Information:
    Pyle, R. M. 2002. The butterflies of Cascadia. Seattle Audubon Society, Seattle, Washington. 420 pp.