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One of two Boloria with a silver-spotted underside. The Bog Fritillary (B. eunomia) is somewhat similar, but the submarginal row of hindwing underside spots is black in selene and cream in eunomia. Alberta populations have been asigned to subspecies atrocostalis (Bird et al. 1995, Layberry et al. 1998).

The pale green eggs turn light brown after being laid on or near the host plant (Scott 1986), hatching in about nine days (Bird et al. 1995). Mature larvae are grey-black with black dots, orange-brown spines and a brown lateral stripe (Scott 1986). The spines directly behind the head are much longer than the remainder of the spines. The pupa is brown with pale-brown wing cases (Scott 1986). Overwinters in the larval stage. The appearance of freshly emerged specimens in late August in southern and central parts of the province strongly suggest a second brood here (contra Bird et al. 1995). Selene is also double-brooded in southern BC and southern Saskatchewan (Guppy & Shepard 2001, Hooper 1973).