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 4379 verified sightings
Observation date: May 07, 2024
Submitted by: johnmark.lowry
Region: Dallas County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 07, 2024
Observation date: Apr 06, 2024
Submitted by: rkw9000
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 04, 2024
Observation date: Apr 29, 2024
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Texas, Nueces County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 01, 2024
Observation date: Apr 18, 2024
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Apr 29, 2024
Observation date: Apr 26, 2024
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Aransas County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Apr 29, 2024
Observation date: Apr 20, 2024
Submitted by: mcvaugh
Region: Contra Costa County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 20, 2024
Observation date: Dec 22, 2018
Submitted by: chherrmann
Region: The Bahamas
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 11, 2024
Observation date: Mar 19, 2024
Submitted by: islandgyal
Region: The Bahamas
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Apr 10, 2024
Observation date: Feb 23, 2024
Submitted by: k.d.stutzman
Region: Puerto Rico
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Apr 10, 2024
Observation date: Mar 29, 2024
Submitted by: mflood1952
Region: Highlands County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 04, 2024
Observation date: Sep 28, 2014
Submitted by: Ken Cheeks
Region: Burke County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Mar 26, 2024
Observation date: Sep 25, 2010
Submitted by: Ken Cheeks
Region: Richmond County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Mar 26, 2024
Observation date: Mar 16, 2024
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 17, 2024
Observation date: Feb 11, 2024
Submitted by: Rantuanett
Region: Lee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 16, 2024
Observation date: Mar 14, 2024
Submitted by: Patricia12
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 15, 2024
Observation date: Sep 05, 2023
Submitted by: sirabandeh
Region: DeKalb County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Mar 02, 2024
Observation date: Feb 28, 2024
Submitted by: Patricia12
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Feb 29, 2024
Observation date: Oct 06, 2023
Submitted by: bonfrey
Region: Eddy County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Feb 19, 2024
Observation date: Feb 15, 2024
Submitted by: Joceb2005
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 16, 2024
Observation date: Feb 14, 2024
Submitted by: therapypetz
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 14, 2024
Observation date: Feb 09, 2024
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Sarasota County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 10, 2024
Observation date: Jan 20, 2024
Submitted by: Azxy
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Feb 09, 2024
Observation date: Feb 08, 2024
Submitted by: Joceb2005
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 09, 2024
Observation date: Feb 09, 2024
Submitted by: Joceb2005
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 09, 2024
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