Great Spangled Fritillary (Argynnis cybele) is in the Brush-footed Butterflies family (Nymphalidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 48,452 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in June.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: summer visitor / breeder. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Great Spangled Fritillary: observations by month (U.S.)
About Great Spangled Fritillary
The great spangled fritillary (Speyeria cybele) is a North American butterfly of the family Nymphalidae.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Great Spangled Fritillary by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | 4,292 | July | Jun–Sep |
| Virginia | 3,940 | June | May–Sep |
| Ohio | 3,335 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Missouri | 3,313 | June | May–Sep |
| Tennessee | 2,885 | May | May–Jun |
| North Carolina | 2,830 | June | May–Jun |
| New York | 2,617 | July | Jun–Sep |
| Maryland | 2,573 | June | Jun–Jul |
| New Hampshire | 1,889 | July | Jul–Sep |
| Kentucky | 1,764 | June | May–Sep |
| Wisconsin | 1,741 | June | Jun–Sep |
| Vermont | 1,564 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Arkansas | 1,486 | May | May–Sep |
| Minnesota | 1,473 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Illinois | 1,365 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Maine | 1,237 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Michigan | 1,183 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Indiana | 1,111 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Connecticut | 1,094 | July | Jun–Sep |
| Massachusetts | 909 | July | Jul–Aug |
| West Virginia | 881 | June | Jun–Sep |
| Kansas | 743 | June | May–Sep |
| New Jersey | 696 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Iowa | 589 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Georgia | 519 | June | May–Jun |
| Oklahoma | 378 | May | May–Sep |
| Idaho | 279 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Montana | 224 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Nebraska | 209 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Oregon | 209 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Utah | 206 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Washington | 187 | July | Jul–Aug |
| New Mexico | 126 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Colorado | 108 | July | Jul–Aug |
| South Carolina | 104 | September | Aug–Sep |
| California | 72 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Alabama | 68 | June | May–Sep |
| Delaware | 62 | June | Jun–Sep |
| Wyoming | 56 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Rhode Island | 44 | July | Jun–Aug |
| South Dakota | 37 | July | Jun–Aug |
| North Dakota | 32 | July | Jul–Jul |
| District of Columbia | 15 | June | Jun–Jun |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related butterflies (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Monarch
Gulf Fritillary
Common Buckeye
Red Admiral
Pearl Crescent
Painted Lady
American Lady
Variegated Fritillary
Photography tips
- Butterflies are sluggish on cool mornings — the best time for close approaches.
- Keep the sensor parallel to the wings for edge-to-edge sharpness.
- Nectar plants in bloom are reliable places to wait.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Great Spangled Fritillary?
Nationally, June has the most observations, with the main season from May to September.
Where is Great Spangled Fritillary most often seen?
The most observations come from Pennsylvania, Virginia, Ohio.