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 25 - 48 of 4374 verified sightings
Observation date: Sep 30, 2023
Submitted by: Rick Sinnott
Region: Davidson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jan 24, 2024
Observation date: Jan 23, 2024
Submitted by: Sue Bocchicchio
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 23, 2024
Observation date: Jan 16, 2024
Submitted by: Rantuanett
Region: Lee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 16, 2024
Observation date: Jan 10, 2024
Submitted by: Patricia12
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jan 11, 2024
Observation date: Aug 15, 1990
Submitted by: James Steen
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jan 06, 2024
Observation date: Aug 15, 1990
Submitted by: James Steen
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jan 06, 2024
Observation date: Aug 15, 1990
Submitted by: James Steen
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jan 06, 2024
Observation date: Jan 05, 2024
Submitted by: Rantuanett
Region: Lee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 05, 2024
Observation date: Dec 24, 2023
Submitted by: mabrybiggggggs
Region: Williamson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Dec 30, 2023
Observation date: Dec 11, 2023
Submitted by: bonfrey
Region: Sarasota County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Dec 23, 2023
Observation date: Dec 23, 2023
Submitted by: SteveHoller
Region: Harris County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Dec 23, 2023
Observation date: Dec 19, 2023
Submitted by: SteveHoller
Region: Harris County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Dec 20, 2023
Observation date: Nov 15, 2023
Submitted by: Janet Ruth
Region: Jamaica
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Dec 12, 2023
Observation date: Dec 03, 2023
Submitted by: Junkmail
Region: Ascension Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Dec 07, 2023
Observation date: Nov 20, 2023
Submitted by: mstanek
Region: Lake County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Nov 30, 2023
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
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