Observation date: September 03, 2013
Submitted by: Brett Budach
Specimen type: Photograph
Observation notes: There is a large colony of Gulf Fritillaries established in the KSU Gardens complex. This is due to the large amount of healthy Passiflora incarnata growing along the fences near the parking lot. The adults are very flighty and hard to photograph, hence the poor quality of the one I am providing here. I have found numerous 1st and 2nd instar larvae and am rearing them to adulthood. I noted that the majority of larvae were found on parts of the vine on the ground and in shady/sheltered spots. Perhaps the females avoided ovipositing on parts of the vine exposed to the full intensity of the sun.
Status: Resident
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: September 03, 2013
Coordinator notes: Despite a very fuzzy photo, the general wing shape, outline, and coloring of the subject, along with the detailed descriptive information, leave no doubt this is Agraulis vanillae, Gulf Fritillary. Be on the lookout for the Zebra Longwing, as there was a recent sighting in eastern NM, and they have been recorded in KS in the past.
