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 4511 verified sightings
Observation date: Oct 28, 2024
Submitted by: inthewoodssomewhere
Region: Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jul 10, 2025
Observation date: Jul 06, 2025
Submitted by: TJM321
Region: Texas, Travis County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 08, 2025
Observation date: Jul 02, 2025
Submitted by: Sophia Reyes
Region: San Benito County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 06, 2025
Observation date: Aug 31, 2024
Submitted by: Spunkybart
Region: Richmond, Virginia, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 04, 2025
Observation date: Aug 29, 2024
Submitted by: Falcon5177
Region: Douglas County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Jul 04, 2025
Observation date: Feb 08, 2025
Submitted by: bentert
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Jul 03, 2025
Observation date: Jun 22, 2025
Submitted by: cjgoin
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 24, 2025
Observation date: Jun 14, 2025
Submitted by: Martin Neil UK
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 16, 2025
Observation date: Feb 24, 2025
Submitted by: Sue Bocchicchio
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: May 19, 2025
Observation date: Sep 10, 2024
Submitted by: cfield
Region: Aiken County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Apr 10, 2025
Observation date: Apr 07, 2025
Submitted by: Patricia12
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 08, 2025
Observation date: Mar 13, 2025
Submitted by: bonfrey
Region: Sarasota County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 29, 2025
Observation date: Mar 09, 2025
Submitted by: Sue Bocchicchio
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 26, 2025
Observation date: Jan 30, 2025
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: Belize District, Belize
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Mar 01, 2025
Observation date: Feb 06, 2025
Submitted by: Marta Reece
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Feb 06, 2025
Observation date: Jan 31, 2025
Submitted by: Sue Bocchicchio
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 31, 2025
Observation date: Jan 22, 2025
Submitted by: Patricia12
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jan 26, 2025
Observation date: Jan 04, 2025
Submitted by: Mtmccullagh
Region: Gulf County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 04, 2025
Observation date: Dec 03, 2024
Submitted by: Mary Scott
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Dec 06, 2024
Observation date: Oct 12, 2024
Submitted by: katiej
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 06, 2024
Observation date: Dec 02, 2024
Submitted by: matthew79n2
Region: Sarasota County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Dec 04, 2024
Observation date: Oct 13, 2024
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Dec 02, 2024
Observation date: Nov 20, 2024
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Bexar County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 27, 2024
Observation date: Nov 18, 2024
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Bexar County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 27, 2024
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