Freija Fritillary

Boloria freija is a resident across Canada, with several smaller populations in the central portion of the United States (Scott 1986), and ranges to Scandinavia, Siberia and Japan. Habitats are Canadian zone bogs and valley forest openings to arctic/alpine tundra valleys. Host plants are shrubs and herbs with species from family Ericaceae, Empetraceae, and Rosaceae. Eggs are laid haphazardly on or near the host plant as single eggs. Individuals overwinter as fourth-instar larvae. There is one flight each year with the approximate flight time May15-July15 depending on latitude (Scott 1986).

Not of concern.

One yearly flight, peaking from late May to early July depending on elevation.

Circumpolar, the North American range extending from Alaska across the Arctic Archipelago to Newfoundland and south to Washington, Montana and the northwest Great Lakes region. Dusjunct populations in the southern Rockies (Scott 1986).

A relatively small Boloria (Wingspan 28 - 38 mm), recognizable by the median row of whitish, arrowhead-shaped marks on the hindwing underside. Remarkably, our populations are apparently not distinguishable from those of the nominate populations in Scandinvia, and are subspecies freija.

Coniferous forest clearings.

"The immature stages of North American populations have not been fully described. The half-grown larva is dark brown with pale patches and many spines (Scott 1986). Eggs hatch in about 12 days (Bird et al. 1995). This is the first Boloria to appear in the spring, flying together with other early spring species such as Spring Azures, elfins and post-hibernation nymphalids."

Females lay eggs on Bearberry (Arctostaphylus uva-ursi) in Alberta (Scott 1986). Larvae feed on Vaccinium caespitosum in Washington (Shepard in Howe 1975), and females also oviposit on this plant in Manitoba (Klassen et al. 1989).