Carol's Fritillary (Speyeria carolae [Dos Passosand Grey])
Wing span: 2 3/4- 3 3/8 inches (6.9 - 8.6 cm).
Identification: Upperside bright orange with black markings. Underside of hindwing with inwardly triangular silver spots in marginal row, basal disk red-brown to buffy brown.
Life history: Males patrol open areas to find females. Females may delay egg-laying until late summer. Eggs are laid singly on litter near violets. First-stage caterpillars overwinter unfed; in the spring they feed on violet leaves.
Flight: One flight from mid-June to September.
Caterpillar hosts: Charleston Mountain violet (Viola charlestonensis).
Adult food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Mountain slopes, foothills, forest openings.
Range: Limited to Charleston Mountains of Clark County, Nevada.
Conservation: All populations should be conserved.
The Nature Conservancy Global Rank: G2,G3 - Species imperiled because of rarity (6 to 20 occurrences), or because of other factors demonstrably making it very vulnerable to extinction throughout its range. (Endangered throughout its range).
