Twin-spot Fritillary
Brenthis hecate
Conservation status data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twin-spot_fritillary
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Lepidoptera
Family
Nymphalidae
Genus
Brenthis
Twin-spot Fritillary belongs to the family Nymphalidae, order Lepidoptera, within the Insecta class.
Species Profile
Species profile data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
The Twin-spot Fritillary faces severe population declines across its range due to habitat loss and degradation of its specialized grassland ecosystems. Agricultural intensification, urban development, and changes in traditional land management practices have eliminated or fragmented critical breeding habitats. Climate change further threatens remaining populations by altering the delicate ecological conditions required for both the butterfly and its host plants.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Inhabits flower-rich grasslands, meadows, and steppe environments, particularly those maintained by traditional grazing or mowing regimes. Requires areas with abundant violet species (Viola) which serve as larval host plants, typically in calcareous or nutrient-poor soils at elevations ranging from lowlands to montane zones.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
The Twin-spot Fritillary faces severe population declines across its range due to habitat loss and degradation of its specialized grassland ecosystems. Agricultural intensification, urban development, and changes in traditional land management practices have eliminated or fragmented critical breeding habitats. Climate change further threatens remaining populations by altering the delicate ecological conditions required for both the butterfly and its host plants.
Climate change impacts on host plant availability
Grassland degradation and abandonment of traditional grazing
Habitat loss from agricultural intensification
Urban development and infrastructure expansion
Habitat fragmentation reducing population connectivity
National vs Global Threat Status
How this species is assessed at the national level compared to its IUCN global status (CR).
| Country | National Status | Global Status | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | LCLeast Concern | CRCritically Endangered | Lower local risk |
| EU | LCLeast Concern | CRCritically Endangered | Lower local risk |
National Red List data sourced from the National Red List Project (nationalredlist.org, ZSL) and country-specific Red List authorities.
Community Sightings
Report a sightingNo community sightings yet. Be the first to report!
Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
National Red Lists: ZSL (2025). National Red List. Zoological Society of London. Available at: https://www.nationalredlist.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Twin-spot Fritillary (Brenthis hecate). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/twin-spot-fritillary