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.
Get your BAMONA Gear!
Please donate!
We depend on donations to keep Butterflies and Moths of North America freely available. We want to express our gratitude to all who showed their support by making a contribution this year. You can donate to support this project at any time.
Advertise with us!
Do you have a product or service that you think would interest BAMONA users? If you would like to advertise on this website, contact us by email, or use the contact form and select the "Advertising" category.
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 4389 verified sightings
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_9119_0.jpeg?itok=TK-7wbcj)
Observation date: Jul 23, 2022
Submitted by: alexthegreat
Region: Gwinnett County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Jun 17, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/gulf_coast_fritillary_6-8-2024.jpg?itok=6xT7HbpQ)
Observation date: Jun 08, 2024
Submitted by: cjgoin
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 10, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_4807.jpeg?itok=1j2i3Lft)
Observation date: Jun 06, 2024
Submitted by: tachwi
Region: Guilford County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Jun 06, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_6332_5.jpg?itok=shhRsW9l)
Observation date: Jun 05, 2024
Submitted by: ButterBelle
Region: Putnam County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 05, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_0280.png?itok=D1uOPHam)
Observation date: Jul 27, 2023
Submitted by: Team-Chick
Region: Virginia, York County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 22, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/gulf_fritillary-closeup_marina_gardenjul5.jpg?itok=MmBkchMm)
Observation date: Jul 05, 2022
Submitted by: DHumphries
Region: Virginia, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 22, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_0046_13.jpg?itok=sFkBHAA_)
Observation date: May 16, 2024
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Texas, Nueces County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 18, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_0220_6.jpg?itok=6CyuaByu)
Observation date: May 16, 2024
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Texas, Nueces County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 17, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_0258_14.jpg?itok=3IoiBm66)
Observation date: May 16, 2024
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Texas, Nueces County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 17, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_4571.jpeg?itok=ox1KJ8Fo)
Observation date: May 12, 2024
Submitted by: Diane R Halpin
Region: Marion County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 15, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/pxl_20240507_141304209.jpg?itok=1k5v1uhm)
Observation date: May 07, 2024
Submitted by: johnmark.lowry
Region: Dallas County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 07, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/gulf_fritillary_45.jpg?itok=OEJrGVoz)
Observation date: Apr 06, 2024
Submitted by: rkw9000
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 04, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_7509_0.jpg?itok=pimAllnx)
Observation date: Apr 29, 2024
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Texas, Nueces County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 01, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_5904-a.jpg?itok=zxvXbTZT)
Observation date: Apr 18, 2024
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Apr 29, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_7165_4.jpg?itok=zpd4YimO)
Observation date: Apr 26, 2024
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Aransas County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Apr 29, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/20240420_105407_copy.jpg?itok=H3IXIkXZ)
Observation date: Apr 20, 2024
Submitted by: mcvaugh
Region: Contra Costa County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 20, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_2163-2.jpg?itok=Z1Wa1VSj)
Observation date: Dec 22, 2018
Submitted by: chherrmann
Region: The Bahamas
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 11, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_1257_9.jpg?itok=8QNSIfsm)
Observation date: Mar 19, 2024
Submitted by: islandgyal
Region: The Bahamas
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Apr 10, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/dsc00371.jpeg?itok=IffU1eDG)
Observation date: Feb 23, 2024
Submitted by: k.d.stutzman
Region: Puerto Rico
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Apr 10, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/march_29_2024_-_merritt_island_nwr_158.jpg?itok=Y4OAJoc-)
Observation date: Mar 29, 2024
Submitted by: mflood1952
Region: Highlands County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 04, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/10a_gulf_fritillary_agraulis_vanillae_wboro_bamona_inat_092814.jpg?itok=nEUUIv2-)
Observation date: Sep 28, 2014
Submitted by: Ken Cheeks
Region: Burke County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Mar 26, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/4_gulf_fritillary_dione_vanillae_c_phinizy_swamp_richmond_county_inat_092510.jpg?itok=hK0Rqao1)
Observation date: Sep 25, 2010
Submitted by: Ken Cheeks
Region: Richmond County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Mar 26, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/gulf_frit_maki_cbg.jpg?itok=kPh1GKN0)
Observation date: Mar 16, 2024
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 17, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_0741_10.jpg?itok=oIrocaS9)
Observation date: Feb 11, 2024
Submitted by: Rantuanett
Region: Lee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 16, 2024
- 1 of 183
- next ›