Variegated Fritillary
Euptoieta claudia (Cramer, 1776)
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Heliconiinae
Identification: Upperside tawny orange with thick dark veins and markings; black spots near margin. Hindwing margin angled and slightly scalloped. Underside of hindwing with a mottled pattern and no silver spots.
Wing Span: 1 3/4 - 3 1/8 inches (4.5 - 8 cm).
Life History: Males patrol short distances in flat, dry, open places. Eggs are laid singly on host plant stems and leaves; caterpillars eat leaves and flowers.
Flight: Three broods from April-October in the north, four broods from February or March-November or December in the south.
Caterpillar Hosts: A variety of plants in several families including maypops (Passiflora incarnata), may apple (Podophyllum peltata), violets (Viola), purslane (Portulaca), stonecrop (Sedum), and moonseed (Menispermum).
Adult Food: Nectar from several plant species including butterflyweed, common milkweed, dogbane, peppermint, red clover, swamp milkweed, and tickseed sunflower.
Habitat: Open sunny areas such as prairies, fields, pastures, road edges, landfills.
Range: Higher elevations of Argentina through Central America and Mexico to the southern United States; also Cuba and Jamaica. Regularly colonizes north through most of the United States except the Pacific Northwest.
Conservation: Not required. An occasional minor pest of ornamental pansies and violets.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
Alternate Scientific Names:
Euptoita claudia
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 25 - 48 of 6103 verified sightings
Observation date: Sep 14, 2025
Submitted by: Lydiaak
Region: Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Sep 19, 2025
Observation date: Sep 16, 2025
Submitted by: MichaelaKing95
Region: Cleveland County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Sep 17, 2025
Observation date: Sep 15, 2025
Submitted by: asombro_institute
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 17, 2025
Observation date: Sep 13, 2025
Submitted by: Alison Davies
Region: Lexington County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Sep 15, 2025
Observation date: Sep 13, 2025
Submitted by: scottj4hops
Region: Garrard County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 13, 2025
Observation date: Sep 10, 2025
Submitted by: greggra
Region: Putnam County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Sep 11, 2025
Observation date: Sep 03, 2025
Submitted by: Jorie
Region: Fayette County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 09, 2025
Observation date: Aug 20, 2025
Submitted by: asombro_institute
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 09, 2025
Observation date: Sep 07, 2025
Submitted by: RogerVDAV
Region: New Castle County, Delaware, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 08, 2025
Observation date: Sep 02, 2025
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: San Miguel County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 05, 2025
Observation date: Sep 02, 2025
Submitted by: hrr705
Region: Tulsa County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 03, 2025
Observation date: Aug 31, 2025
Submitted by: tiki33wv
Region: Wood County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Sep 02, 2025
Observation date: Aug 27, 2025
Submitted by: tiki33wv
Region: Pocahontas County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 30, 2025
Observation date: Aug 17, 2025
Submitted by: hockeybruce7
Region: Monroe County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 19, 2025
Observation date: Aug 17, 2025
Submitted by: Alison Davies
Region: Orangeburg County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Aug 18, 2025
Observation date: Aug 15, 2025
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Aug 17, 2025
Observation date: Jun 21, 2025
Submitted by: bonfrey
Region: Lincoln County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 30, 2025
Observation date: Jul 11, 2025
Submitted by: klamke
Region: Sioux County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: Emily Geest
Verified date: Jul 29, 2025
Observation date: Jul 09, 2025
Submitted by: klamke
Region: Sioux County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: Emily Geest
Verified date: Jul 28, 2025
Observation date: Jul 15, 2025
Submitted by: klamke
Region: Jackson County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 27, 2025
Observation date: Jul 15, 2025
Submitted by: klamke
Region: Jackson County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 27, 2025
Observation date: Jul 24, 2025
Submitted by: asombro_institute
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 25, 2025
Observation date: Jul 05, 2024
Submitted by: acb22
Region: Sangamon County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 19, 2025
Observation date: Jul 18, 2025
Submitted by: Dogoszhi
Region: Sandoval County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 18, 2025
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