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 1 - 24 of 4559 verified sightings
Observation date: Oct 01, 2025
Submitted by: MilissaSutton_
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 18, 2025
Observation date: Nov 13, 2025
Submitted by: Patricia12
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 17, 2025
Observation date: Nov 03, 2024
Submitted by: indigobirding
Region: Puerto Rico
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Nov 09, 2025
Observation date: Oct 26, 2025
Submitted by: Possumbug
Region: Hillsborough County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 30, 2025
Observation date: Jul 21, 2025
Submitted by: Colleen K
Region: Robertson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 24, 2025
Observation date: Jul 31, 2025
Submitted by: tnjbodker
Region: Maury County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 24, 2025
Observation date: Aug 02, 2025
Submitted by: Stujo4
Region: Sedgwick County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Oct 24, 2025
Observation date: Aug 22, 2025
Submitted by: Stujo4
Region: Sedgwick County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Oct 24, 2025
Observation date: Sep 26, 2025
Submitted by: Blablancwillis
Region: Douglas County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Oct 24, 2025
Observation date: Oct 16, 2025
Submitted by: cdfrick
Region: Gove County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Oct 24, 2025
Observation date: Aug 14, 2025
Submitted by: Colleen K
Region: Robertson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 24, 2025
Observation date: Aug 23, 2025
Submitted by: tnjbodker
Region: Roane County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 24, 2025
Observation date: Sep 23, 2024
Submitted by: Aurelia Arcana
Region: Davidson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 24, 2025
Observation date: Sep 13, 2025
Submitted by: ButterBelle
Region: Putnam County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 24, 2025
Observation date: Sep 01, 2025
Submitted by: Snellzy
Region: Davidson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 24, 2025
Observation date: Mar 16, 2024
Submitted by: commentator
Region: The Bahamas
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Oct 19, 2025
Observation date: Oct 15, 2025
Submitted by: ReggieGal
Region: Orange County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 17, 2025
Observation date: Oct 14, 2025
Submitted by: Samela95437
Region: Mendocino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 15, 2025
Observation date: Oct 09, 2025
Submitted by: Flygirl1
Region: Onslow County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Oct 10, 2025
Observation date: Oct 08, 2025
Submitted by: Casey0680
Region: Charleston County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Oct 09, 2025
Observation date: Oct 04, 2025
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 07, 2025
Observation date: Sep 29, 2025
Submitted by: aturney
Region: Texas, Polk County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 01, 2025
Observation date: Aug 02, 2025
Submitted by: cbearskin
Region: Kay County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 30, 2025
Observation date: Aug 16, 2025
Submitted by: cfield
Region: Richmond County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Sep 29, 2025
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