Regal fritillary

Description:

Rare butterfly only seen in tall grass prairie. Males emerge a week or two before females, who are quickly mated with. Female then hide for the remainder of the summer until they lay their eggs in September. Many estimates say they lay 2000 eggs, but they eggs are laid at random which means first instar caterpillars have to search for their, now uncommon, host prairie violet.

Habitat:

Tall grass prairie

Notes:

These are strong flyers