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 1 - 24 of 6103 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 17, 2021
Submitted by: blgreco
Region: Mineral County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Oct 26, 2025
Observation date: Jul 20, 2025
Submitted by: Cheri Pierce
Region: Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 24, 2025
Observation date: Jul 22, 2025
Submitted by: ButterBelle
Region: Putnam County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 24, 2025
Observation date: Aug 14, 2025
Submitted by: Colleen K
Region: Robertson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 24, 2025
Observation date: Sep 07, 2025
Submitted by: Snellzy
Region: Davidson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 24, 2025
Observation date: Oct 22, 2025
Submitted by: Normsbam1
Region: Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Oct 23, 2025
Observation date: Oct 22, 2025
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Union County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Oct 22, 2025
Observation date: Oct 19, 2025
Submitted by: TJM321
Region: Texas, Travis County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 19, 2025
Observation date: Oct 17, 2025
Submitted by: maryjanzen
Region: Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Oct 18, 2025
Observation date: Mar 23, 2019
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Indian River County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 16, 2025
Observation date: Sep 18, 2025
Submitted by: Barometz
Region: Marion County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Oct 12, 2025
Observation date: Oct 03, 2025
Submitted by: David Allio
Region: Fountain County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Oct 07, 2025
Observation date: Sep 20, 2025
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Oct 02, 2025
Observation date: Oct 01, 2025
Submitted by: Alison Davies
Region: Lexington County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Oct 02, 2025
Observation date: Sep 24, 2025
Submitted by: Blue Swallowtail
Region: Adams County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: Emily Geest
Verified date: Sep 30, 2025
Observation date: Aug 12, 2025
Submitted by: klamke
Region: Sioux County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: Emily Geest
Verified date: Sep 29, 2025
Observation date: Aug 19, 2025
Submitted by: klamke
Region: Jackson County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Sep 29, 2025
Observation date: Sep 14, 2025
Submitted by: Janet Ruth
Region: Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Sep 25, 2025
Observation date: Sep 22, 2025
Submitted by: AzarNick
Region: Pettis County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 23, 2025
Observation date: Sep 20, 2025
Submitted by: tiki33wv
Region: Wood County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Sep 23, 2025
Observation date: Sep 18, 2025
Submitted by: Eric Hartshaw
Region: Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Sep 22, 2025
Observation date: Sep 12, 2025
Submitted by: Eric Hartshaw
Region: Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Sep 22, 2025
Observation date: Sep 19, 2025
Submitted by: tiki33wv
Region: Wood County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Sep 20, 2025
Observation date: Sep 19, 2025
Submitted by: Kentonky41015
Region: Kenton County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 19, 2025
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