Meadow Fritillary (Boloria bellona) is in the Brush-footed Butterflies family (Nymphalidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 7,871 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in July.
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 Meadow Fritillary: observations by month (U.S.)
About Meadow Fritillary
Boloria bellona, the meadow fritillary, is a North American butterfly in the brushfoot family, Nymphalidae. The common name, meadow fritillary, is also used for a European butterfly species, Melitaea parthenoides.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Meadow Fritillary by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio | 1,877 | September | Jun–Oct |
| Pennsylvania | 1,475 | August | Jun–Sep |
| Kentucky | 567 | July | Jun–Oct |
| Virginia | 402 | July | Apr–Sep |
| Maryland | 399 | August | Jun–Sep |
| New York | 373 | July | Jul–Sep |
| Minnesota | 368 | July | May–Sep |
| Wisconsin | 354 | August | May–Sep |
| North Carolina | 350 | June | Jun–Sep |
| Illinois | 298 | June | Jun–Sep |
| West Virginia | 297 | September | Jun–Sep |
| Vermont | 234 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Iowa | 206 | July | May–Sep |
| Indiana | 204 | September | Apr–Sep |
| Michigan | 76 | July | Jun–Aug |
| North Dakota | 66 | July | Jul–Aug |
| New Hampshire | 59 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Maine | 55 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Tennessee | 53 | July | Jun–Sep |
| South Dakota | 39 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Colorado | 23 | June | May–Jun |
| New Jersey | 22 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Massachusetts | 17 | August | May–Sep |
| Connecticut | 14 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Delaware | 14 | June | Jun–Sep |
| Wyoming | 9 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Georgia | 6 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Washington | 6 | 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 Meadow Fritillary?
Nationally, July has the most observations, with the main season from May to September.
Where is Meadow Fritillary most often seen?
The most observations come from Ohio, Pennsylvania, Kentucky.