Variegated Fritillary
Euptoieta claudia (Cramer, 1776)
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Heliconiinae
Identification: Upperside tawny orange with thick dark veins and markings; black spots near margin. Hindwing margin angled and slightly scalloped. Underside of hindwing with a mottled pattern and no silver spots.
Wing Span: 1 3/4 - 3 1/8 inches (4.5 - 8 cm).
Life History: Males patrol short distances in flat, dry, open places. Eggs are laid singly on host plant stems and leaves; caterpillars eat leaves and flowers.
Flight: Three broods from April-October in the north, four broods from February or March-November or December in the south.
Caterpillar Hosts: A variety of plants in several families including maypops (Passiflora incarnata), may apple (Podophyllum peltata), violets (Viola), purslane (Portulaca), stonecrop (Sedum), and moonseed (Menispermum).
Adult Food: Nectar from several plant species including butterflyweed, common milkweed, dogbane, peppermint, red clover, swamp milkweed, and tickseed sunflower.
Habitat: Open sunny areas such as prairies, fields, pastures, road edges, landfills.
Range: Higher elevations of Argentina through Central America and Mexico to the southern United States; also Cuba and Jamaica. Regularly colonizes north through most of the United States except the Pacific Northwest.
Conservation: Not required. An occasional minor pest of ornamental pansies and violets.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
Alternate Scientific Names:
Euptoita claudia
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 5978 verified sightings
Observation date: May 19, 2024
Submitted by: kericson
Region: Polk County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 27, 2024
Observation date: May 26, 2024
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Charleston County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: May 27, 2024
Observation date: May 16, 2024
Submitted by: pjharvey07
Region: Franklin County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: May 23, 2024
Observation date: May 22, 2024
Submitted by: firedancefarms
Region: Okmulgee County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: May 23, 2024
Observation date: Jul 15, 2023
Submitted by: chherrmann
Region: Madison County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 22, 2024
Observation date: Jul 13, 2022
Submitted by: Team-Chick
Region: Virginia, York County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 22, 2024
Observation date: Aug 18, 2022
Submitted by: John LeBlanc
Region: Chesterfield County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 22, 2024
Observation date: Nov 25, 2022
Submitted by: Shirley Devan
Region: James City County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 22, 2024
Observation date: Jun 13, 2023
Submitted by: Team-Chick
Region: Newport News, Virginia, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 22, 2024
Observation date: Jul 30, 2023
Submitted by: SusanPotomac
Region: Orange County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 22, 2024
Observation date: Aug 31, 2023
Submitted by: Spunkybart
Region: Richmond, Virginia, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 22, 2024
Observation date: Jul 08, 2022
Submitted by: c4c
Region: Botetourt County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 22, 2024
Observation date: May 21, 2024
Submitted by: James Steen (JAMES STEEN )
Region: Harper County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: May 21, 2024
Observation date: May 21, 2024
Submitted by: James Steen
Region: Harper County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: May 21, 2024
Observation date: Mar 25, 2024
Submitted by: pkmcp
Region: Brown County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 12, 2024
Observation date: May 09, 2024
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Texas, Nueces County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 10, 2024
Observation date: May 02, 2024
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Texas, Nueces County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 04, 2024
Observation date: Apr 23, 2024
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Texas, Nueces County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Apr 29, 2024
Observation date: Apr 26, 2024
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Texas, San Patricio County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Apr 29, 2024
Observation date: Apr 27, 2024
Submitted by: KD5NRH
Region: Erath County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Apr 29, 2024
Observation date: Apr 06, 2024
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Scott County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Apr 24, 2024
Observation date: Apr 05, 2024
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Riley County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Apr 16, 2024
Observation date: Apr 13, 2024
Submitted by: seemayer
Region: Sedgwick County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Apr 15, 2024
Observation date: Apr 08, 2024
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Sevier County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Apr 15, 2024
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