Wingspan: 48–65 mm
Flight period of butterflies: in one generation from June to September
Larval host plants: species from the genus Viola (Viola)
Gospica (Argynnis paphia) is a large butterfly that has on the orange-coloured upper side of its wings a pattern of black spots. The female is on the upper side less intensely orange and speckled with larger black spots than the male. The male, however, has on the forewings transverse black-coloured bands of scent hairs, which the female does not have. With the scent released by the scent hairs, he attracts a female, with whom he performs the distinctive nuptial dance. The pair, flying in a spiral, rises into the air and then descends to the ground. The forewings are orange also on the underside, the underside of the hindwings is pale green with more or less pronounced silvery bands.
Gospica is a fairly common species that occurs from the sea almost to the forest edge. On hot summer days, when along forest edges or in clearings it flies from flower to flower of brambles, horse's manes and other nectar plants, you can see how swift and deft a flyer it is.
