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 265 - 288 of 4580 verified sightings
Observation date: Oct 03, 2023
Submitted by: Patricia12
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 04, 2023
Observation date: Jun 05, 2023
Submitted by: Jenmiller81
Region: Jefferson County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 03, 2023
Observation date: Sep 29, 2023
Submitted by: TNnutter
Region: Warren County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Sep 29, 2023
Observation date: Sep 27, 2023
Submitted by: Burr Heneman
Region: Marin County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 28, 2023
Observation date: Sep 28, 2023
Submitted by: Barjones78
Region: Benton County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 28, 2023
Observation date: Sep 21, 2023
Submitted by: renatte68
Region: Flagler County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 28, 2023
Observation date: Sep 24, 2023
Submitted by: ajcrypto
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 25, 2023
Observation date: Sep 23, 2023
Submitted by: lkennedywilson
Region: St. Johns County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 23, 2023
Observation date: Sep 17, 2023
Submitted by: Deborah Paulsen
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 21, 2023
Observation date: Sep 17, 2023
Submitted by: Deborah Paulsen
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 21, 2023
Observation date: Sep 02, 2023
Submitted by: Michelleb2462
Region: Douglas County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Sep 20, 2023
Observation date: Sep 11, 2023
Submitted by: Dobber31
Region: San Mateo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 12, 2023
Observation date: Sep 10, 2023
Submitted by: HTMFarms
Region: Tulsa County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 11, 2023
Observation date: Sep 09, 2023
Submitted by: LCarle
Region: Cleveland County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Sep 10, 2023
Observation date: Sep 04, 2023
Submitted by: Deborah Paulsen
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 07, 2023
Observation date: Sep 03, 2023
Submitted by: Patricia12
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 06, 2023
Observation date: Sep 04, 2023
Submitted by: TNnutter
Region: Warren County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Sep 04, 2023
Observation date: Sep 04, 2023
Submitted by: cjgoin
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 04, 2023
Observation date: Sep 02, 2023
Submitted by: Don Atkinson-Adams
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 03, 2023
Observation date: Sep 02, 2023
Submitted by: ButterBelle
Region: Putnam County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Sep 02, 2023
Observation date: Feb 23, 2023
Submitted by: joanfiller
Region: Sarasota County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 01, 2023
Observation date: Aug 31, 2023
Submitted by: Alison Davies
Region: Lexington County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Sep 01, 2023
Observation date: Aug 29, 2023
Submitted by: dovel
Region: Shawnee County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 31, 2023
Observation date: Aug 28, 2023
Submitted by: ridgeboy
Region: Polk County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 31, 2023
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