National Moth Week is July 18-26!
Moths are amazing creatures. Take photographs and share your moth sightings with us to document the moths where you live.
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 649 - 672 of 4585 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 29, 2021
Submitted by: GreatKat
Region: Madison County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 01, 2021
Observation date: May 21, 2018
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: McIntosh County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Aug 30, 2021
Observation date: Aug 22, 2021
Submitted by: ingypingy11
Region: Placer County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 23, 2021
Observation date: Aug 21, 2021
Submitted by: Debo Boddiford
Region: Georgia, Screven County, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Aug 23, 2021
Observation date: Aug 14, 2021
Submitted by: Debo Boddiford
Region: Georgia, Screven County, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Aug 20, 2021
Observation date: Aug 14, 2021
Submitted by: Debo Boddiford
Region: Georgia, Screven County, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Aug 20, 2021
Observation date: Aug 15, 2021
Submitted by: aturney
Region: Texas, Polk County, United States
Verified by: Emily Geest
Verified date: Aug 19, 2021
Observation date: Aug 15, 2021
Submitted by: lilkriskattn
Region: Texas, Montague County, United States
Verified by: Emily Geest
Verified date: Aug 19, 2021
Observation date: Aug 14, 2021
Submitted by: CVmariposa
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 14, 2021
Observation date: Aug 13, 2021
Submitted by: lilkriskattn
Region: Texas, Montague County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 14, 2021
Observation date: Aug 13, 2021
Submitted by: Patti_Patamawadee
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 13, 2021
Observation date: Aug 11, 2021
Submitted by: JudyLY
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 13, 2021
Observation date: Aug 08, 2021
Submitted by: lilkriskattn
Region: Texas, Montague County, United States
Verified by: Emily Geest
Verified date: Aug 11, 2021
Observation date: Aug 07, 2021
Submitted by: Patricia12
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 11, 2021
Observation date: Aug 08, 2021
Submitted by: cjgoin
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 09, 2021
Observation date: Aug 07, 2021
Submitted by: Susan Keller
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 09, 2021
Observation date: Aug 04, 2021
Submitted by: D Grimes
Region: Brooks County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Aug 07, 2021
Observation date: Jul 28, 2021
Submitted by: AnotherSarah
Region: Harris County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 05, 2021
Observation date: Jul 28, 2021
Submitted by: maraleemoats
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 05, 2021
Observation date: Aug 02, 2021
Submitted by: Patti_Patamawadee
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 02, 2021
Observation date: Apr 19, 2020
Submitted by: loyallonghorn
Region: Fort Bend County, Texas, United States
Verified by: Emily Geest
Verified date: Aug 01, 2021
Observation date: Jul 31, 2021
Submitted by: Marta Reece
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 01, 2021
Observation date: Jul 28, 2021
Submitted by: Marta Reece
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 31, 2021
Observation date: Apr 19, 2020
Submitted by: loyallonghorn
Region: Fort Bend County, Texas, United States
Verified by: Emily Geest
Verified date: Jul 30, 2021
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