silver washed fritillary

The silver-washed fritillary is a relatively big butterfly. The underside of its wings has a metallic gloss and curved silver bands, hence the name „silver-washed“. This species of fritillary butterflies is very common in Europe. Interestingly, its caterpillar mainly feeds on the common dog violet and thus, is dependent on the plants presence for survival.

The indivdual represented in this drawing was pictured sitting on a purple butterfly bush. It can often be observed that the butterfly bush or summer lilac almost magically attracts butterflies in the garden. Although this plant is an important supplier of nectar, there are also some concerns regarding its ecological impact: The butterfly bush is an invasive plant species, meaning that native plant species can be suppressed. Additionally, there is some belief that it contains special chemical substances which are addictive to butterflies turning them into easy prey for predators.

Dimensions & medium:
Medium: Faber Castell polychromos
Paper: Clairefontaine Paint On Mix Media
Size: A4 (8.3 in x 11.7 in)