Cardinal (Argynnis pandora): identification, range and host plants

The Cardinal, Argynnis pandora, is a large fritillary of the family Nymphalidae, sometimes placed in its own genus as Pandoriana pandora. The species ranges across southern Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, extending east through the Palearctic to the Tian Shan and northwestern India, making it one of the more widespread fritillaries of the Old World.

Identification

This is one of the bigger fritillaries on the wing, with a wingspan of 72–84 mm, running from about 72–76 mm in males to 80–84 mm in females. The upperside carries the typical fritillary pattern of orange ground colour broken by black spots and streaks, and a greenish flush often washes across the base of the wings, with pink tones showing on the underside of the hindwing in fresh individuals, a combination that helps separate it from the plainer orange of most other large fritillaries sharing its range.

Range and habitat

The Cardinal favours deciduous and open pine forests with a large supply of nectar-rich plants such as thistles and knapweeds. Within its broad range across southern Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, reaching east to the Tian Shan and northwestern India, it is a butterfly of warm, open woodland edges and flowery clearings rather than dense, unbroken forest.

Life cycle and host plants

Caterpillars feed mainly on violets (Viola species), the usual foodplant family for fritillaries, though in Spain the species has also been recorded on Ruta chalepensis, a rue rather than a violet, showing some flexibility in diet at the edge of its range.

Behaviour and flight period

Adults fly from May to August across the main range, occasionally lingering into September, and the species is a strong flier capable of wandering well beyond its breeding grounds: Britain has recorded rare stray sightings in August, far north of anywhere the Cardinal breeds.

Similar species

• Silver-washed fritillary (Argynnis paphia): smaller, with a wingspan of 69–80 mm against the Cardinal’s 72–84 mm, and its underside shows a metallic green-and-silver wash rather than the Cardinal’s pink-flushed hindwing.
• Dark green fritillary (Speyeria aglaja): similarly orange above but noticeably smaller, an open-ground specialist lacking the Cardinal’s greenish upperside flush and pink underside tones.