Gulf Fritillary
Agraulis vanillae (Linnaeus, 1758)
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Heliconiinae
Identification: Upperside bright orange with black markings; 3 black-encircled white dots on forewing leading edge. Underside brown; forewing with orange at base; both wings with elongated, iridescent silver spots.
Wing Span: 2 1/2 - 3 3/4 inches (6.3 - 9.5 cm).
Life History: Males patrol for females, who lay eggs on many parts of the host plant. Caterpillars feed on most parts of the host. Adults overwinter in the south.
Flight: Throughout the year in south Florida and South Texas, January-November in the north. Number of broods has not been determined.
Caterpillar Hosts: Various species of passion-vine including maypops (Passiflora incarnata) and running pop (P. foetida).
Adult Food: Nectar from lantana, shepherd\'s needle, cordias, composites, and others.
Habitat: Pastures, open fields, second-growth subtropical forest and edges, city gardens.
Range: South America north through Central America, Mexico, and the West Indies to the southern United States. Wanders north to the central United States; rare northward.
Conservation: Not usually of concern.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: Cultivate host plants.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 49 - 72 of 4383 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 15, 2023
Submitted by: JJP_1204
Region: Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: Emily Geest
Verified date: Nov 27, 2023
Observation date: Sep 30, 2023
Submitted by: Lisahug
Region: Sonoma County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 21, 2023
Observation date: Nov 18, 2023
Submitted by: black
Region: Richland County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Nov 21, 2023
Observation date: Nov 17, 2023
Submitted by: therapypetz
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Nov 17, 2023
Observation date: Nov 17, 2023
Submitted by: Cinders
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 17, 2023
Observation date: Nov 15, 2023
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Nov 17, 2023
Observation date: Nov 14, 2023
Submitted by: black
Region: Kershaw County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Nov 15, 2023
Observation date: Nov 05, 2023
Submitted by: Patricia12
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 13, 2023
Observation date: Nov 12, 2023
Submitted by: kericson
Region: Polk County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Nov 13, 2023
Observation date: Apr 09, 2023
Submitted by: kericson
Region: Polk County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Nov 09, 2023
Observation date: Oct 17, 2023
Submitted by: Cherie Sneed
Region: Greene County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 26, 2023
Observation date: Oct 13, 2023
Submitted by: Sue Bocchicchio
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 23, 2023
Observation date: Oct 21, 2023
Submitted by: Seth Mueller
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 22, 2023
Observation date: Oct 13, 2023
Submitted by: lbokeeks
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 17, 2023
Observation date: Oct 15, 2023
Submitted by: Janet Ruth
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Oct 17, 2023
Observation date: Oct 02, 2023
Submitted by: Honu Green
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Oct 16, 2023
Observation date: Oct 10, 2023
Submitted by: NBeaty
Region: Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Oct 11, 2023
Observation date: Nov 02, 2019
Submitted by: bapeck8
Region: Shasta County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 05, 2023
Observation date: Oct 03, 2023
Submitted by: Patricia12
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 04, 2023
Observation date: Jun 05, 2023
Submitted by: Jenmiller81
Region: Jefferson County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 03, 2023
Observation date: Sep 29, 2023
Submitted by: TNnutter
Region: Warren County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Sep 29, 2023
Observation date: Sep 27, 2023
Submitted by: Burr Heneman
Region: Marin County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 28, 2023
Observation date: Sep 28, 2023
Submitted by: Barjones78
Region: Benton County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 28, 2023
Observation date: Sep 21, 2023
Submitted by: renatte68
Region: Flagler County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 28, 2023
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