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 6063 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 21, 2025
Submitted by: bonfrey
Region: Lincoln County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 30, 2025
Observation date: Jul 11, 2025
Submitted by: klamke
Region: Sioux County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: Emily Geest
Verified date: Jul 29, 2025
Observation date: Jul 09, 2025
Submitted by: klamke
Region: Sioux County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: Emily Geest
Verified date: Jul 28, 2025
Observation date: Jul 15, 2025
Submitted by: klamke
Region: Jackson County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 27, 2025
Observation date: Jul 15, 2025
Submitted by: klamke
Region: Jackson County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 27, 2025
Observation date: Jul 24, 2025
Submitted by: asombro_institute
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 25, 2025
Observation date: Jul 05, 2024
Submitted by: acb22
Region: Sangamon County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 19, 2025
Observation date: Jul 18, 2025
Submitted by: Dogoszhi
Region: Sandoval County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 18, 2025
Observation date: Jul 18, 2025
Submitted by: Dogoszhi
Region: Sandoval County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 18, 2025
Observation date: Jul 27, 2024
Submitted by: Daniel Morton
Region: Warren County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 08, 2025
Observation date: Jul 02, 2025
Submitted by: Allison Barta
Region: Cass County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 08, 2025
Observation date: Sep 17, 2024
Submitted by: lynxclaws
Region: Habersham County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 05, 2025
Observation date: Jul 04, 2025
Submitted by: Dogoszhi
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 05, 2025
Observation date: Jun 25, 2025
Submitted by: Daffodale3
Region: Fairfax County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 03, 2025
Observation date: Jun 30, 2025
Submitted by: Dogoszhi
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 30, 2025
Observation date: Jun 23, 2025
Submitted by: Allison Barta
Region: Cass County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 23, 2025
Observation date: Jun 21, 2025
Submitted by: Janet Ruth
Region: Sandoval County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 22, 2025
Observation date: Jun 11, 2025
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 12, 2025
Observation date: Jun 03, 2025
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Charleston County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Jun 04, 2025
Observation date: Apr 20, 2025
Submitted by: Sheilabean
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Apr 26, 2025
Observation date: Apr 20, 2025
Submitted by: Sheilabean
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Apr 26, 2025
Observation date: Apr 20, 2025
Submitted by: Sheilabean
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Apr 26, 2025
Observation date: Sep 24, 2024
Submitted by: manduhbear
Region: Menominee County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: elsner
Verified date: Feb 27, 2025
Observation date: Jun 05, 2024
Submitted by: bonfrey
Region: Socorro County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Feb 06, 2025
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