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 337 - 360 of 4581 verified sightings
Observation date: Nov 07, 2022
Submitted by: ButterBelle
Region: Putnam County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Feb 24, 2023
Observation date: Oct 24, 2022
Submitted by: ButterBelle
Region: Putnam County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Feb 24, 2023
Observation date: Feb 12, 2023
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Lee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 16, 2023
Observation date: Sep 05, 2021
Submitted by: hasfitz5
Region: Napa County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Feb 14, 2023
Observation date: Feb 08, 2023
Submitted by: therapypetz
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 09, 2023
Observation date: May 30, 2020
Submitted by: ObserverofGod'sart
Region: Bexar County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 09, 2023
Observation date: Oct 24, 2016
Submitted by: Elephant42
Region: United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Feb 05, 2023
Observation date: Nov 25, 2022
Submitted by: madamirie
Region: Monterey County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Feb 04, 2023
Observation date: Nov 06, 2022
Submitted by: bonfrey
Region: Harris County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Feb 02, 2023
Observation date: Jan 19, 2023
Submitted by: WYbutterflyer1
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 01, 2023
Observation date: May 28, 2020
Submitted by: Creach
Region: Maui County, Hawaii, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jan 28, 2023
Observation date: Oct 27, 2022
Submitted by: tonzetich
Region: St. Lucia
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 27, 2023
Observation date: Jan 21, 2023
Submitted by: Patricia12
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jan 21, 2023
Observation date: Sep 24, 2022
Submitted by: madamirie
Region: Santa Cruz County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jan 19, 2023
Observation date: Sep 01, 2021
Submitted by: Brynne Bryan
Region: Denton County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jan 18, 2023
Observation date: Jan 16, 2023
Submitted by: paulmplouffe
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jan 17, 2023
Observation date: Jan 16, 2023
Submitted by: Gruntaloob
Region: Bexar County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jan 17, 2023
Observation date: Dec 04, 2022
Submitted by: Marta Reece
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jan 16, 2023
Observation date: Jan 12, 2023
Submitted by: therapypetz
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jan 12, 2023
Observation date: Jan 10, 2023
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Charleston County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Jan 11, 2023
Observation date: Sep 24, 2022
Submitted by: mfernandabarraza
Region: Sonora, Mexico
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jan 02, 2023
Observation date: Dec 28, 2022
Submitted by: Erik Stabl
Region: Hillsborough County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Dec 31, 2022
Observation date: May 09, 2022
Submitted by: hsmarshall
Region: Orleans Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Dec 14, 2022
Observation date: Feb 08, 2019
Submitted by: David F Smith
Region: Sonora, Mexico
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Dec 12, 2022
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