Five Endangered Butterflies: Uncompahgre Fritillary

Uncompahgre Fritillary
This is the second of five posts about my endangered butterfly linoleum prints

The Uncompahgre Fritillary is in the family Nymphalidae – The name of this butterfly comes from one of the nomadic groups of the Ute Indians that once traveled in what is now eastern Utah, western Colorado and parts of New Mexico and Wyoming. Uncompahgre fritillary lives on two 14,000ft peaks in the San Juan Mountains, Colorado: Uncomphagre and Red Cloud peaks. Its caterpillars eat snow willow, which is a miniature, alpine version of our tall willow trees. This print is made from two color blocks.





Alpine ecosystems are fragile – the species are isolated much like island species, and they are adapted to the temperature, moisture and altitude. Increases in average temperature are major concern for alpine and montane species; as temperatures warm, the subalpine zone marches up the mountain, decreasing the surface area available until it is gone.

Photo credit: Trail up Uncompahgre Peak by Jessi Varner on Flickr


Special thanks to the amazing photographer Bill Bouton for the use of his butterfly photo, and to Dr. Paul Opler for his gracious advice.