Brush-footed butterflies

Admirals, checkerspots, crescentspots, angle wings, leafwings, painted ladies, tortoiseshells and longwings—these delightfully named butterflies join the fritillaries in a family known as the brush-footed butterflies. Common to all is the characteristic of shortened forelegs reduced to tiny paw-like appendages that are useless for walking.

After hatching from a pale brown egg, the great-spangled fritillary caterpillar feeds on violets. Large spines with yellowish bases help protect the black caterpillar from predators. The butterfly emerges from a mottled dark brown chrysalis and favors moist meadows, pastures and pine and oak woods. They sport antennae topped with large prominent knobs and two furry facial appendages called palpi.

Great spangled fritillaries dine on the nectar of various flowers like thistles, common milkweed, black-eyed Susans, purple coneflower, bergamot, dogbane, mountain laurel, vetch, joe-pye weed and bee balm.

Hummingbirds are also dedicated fans of the beautiful and fragrant bee balm, particularly in its red-flowered variety. Humans, too, enjoy this popular perennial for its beauty, fragrance and culinary charms. Freshly chopped leaves and flowers can be added to salads, or included in recipes calling for mint. Tea made from the leaves has been used to treat colds, fevers and insomnia.

Both butterfly and plant are considered quite common, but are no less stirring to the senses for being so.