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 25 - 48 of 4486 verified sightings
Observation date: Oct 07, 2024
Submitted by: Christinalea
Region: Texas, Wichita County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 07, 2024
Observation date: Oct 05, 2024
Submitted by: Cheri Pierce
Region: Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Oct 06, 2024
Observation date: Oct 05, 2024
Submitted by: Colleen K
Region: Robertson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Oct 06, 2024
Observation date: Oct 04, 2024
Submitted by: DLAbbe
Region: Texas, Smith County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 06, 2024
Observation date: Oct 02, 2024
Submitted by: Sheilabean
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 03, 2024
Observation date: Sep 26, 2024
Submitted by: eperry
Region: Hays County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 02, 2024
Observation date: Sep 18, 2024
Submitted by: Gordon Berman
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 29, 2024
Observation date: Sep 27, 2024
Submitted by: Sheilabean
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 28, 2024
Observation date: Sep 24, 2024
Submitted by: black
Region: Richland County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Sep 28, 2024
Observation date: Sep 21, 2024
Submitted by: amylbolt
Region: Walton County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 25, 2024
Observation date: Sep 22, 2024
Submitted by: Sandyj
Region: Berkeley County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Sep 23, 2024
Observation date: Sep 17, 2024
Submitted by: ButterBelle
Region: Putnam County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 17, 2024
Observation date: Sep 15, 2024
Submitted by: Mango2oo
Region: York County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Sep 16, 2024
Observation date: Sep 12, 2024
Submitted by: Der Bogen
Region: San Joaquin County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 15, 2024
Observation date: Sep 12, 2024
Submitted by: Der Bogen
Region: San Joaquin County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 15, 2024
Observation date: Sep 08, 2024
Submitted by: fotosbydeb
Region: Hillsborough County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 09, 2024
Observation date: Sep 09, 2024
Submitted by: Tlcarter
Region: Hardin County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 09, 2024
Observation date: Sep 08, 2024
Submitted by: ButterBelle
Region: Putnam County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 09, 2024
Observation date: Sep 07, 2024
Submitted by: Alison Davies
Region: Richland County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Sep 09, 2024
Observation date: Sep 06, 2024
Submitted by: ButterBelle
Region: Putnam County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Sep 06, 2024
Observation date: Aug 25, 2024
Submitted by: Gordon Berman
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 04, 2024
Observation date: Sep 02, 2024
Submitted by: Alison Davies
Region: Lexington County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Sep 03, 2024
Observation date: Aug 31, 2024
Submitted by: GLG
Region: Walton County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 31, 2024
Observation date: Aug 30, 2024
Submitted by: Colleen K
Region: Robertson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 30, 2024
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