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 1 - 21 of 21 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 22, 2005
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Kauai County, Hawaii, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 28, 2024
Observation date: Aug 12, 2024
Submitted by: TheRenaissanceMan
Region: Maui County, Hawaii, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 14, 2024
Observation date: May 28, 2020
Submitted by: Creach
Region: Maui County, Hawaii, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jan 28, 2023
Observation date: Aug 01, 2022
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Honolulu County, Hawaii, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 14, 2022
Observation date: Nov 13, 2013
Submitted by: rynlord
Region: Honolulu County, Hawaii, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Apr 03, 2022
Observation date: Jan 30, 2014
Submitted by: Paul Tavares
Region: Hawaii County, Hawaii, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Apr 03, 2022
Observation date: Jun 30, 2017
Submitted by: Elmore Dodge
Region: Maui County, Hawaii, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Apr 03, 2022
Observation date: Mar 19, 2017
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: Honolulu County, Hawaii, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Apr 03, 2022
Observation date: Mar 09, 2018
Submitted by: heathermarywimberly
Region: Honolulu County, Hawaii, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Apr 03, 2022
Observation date: Apr 22, 2018
Submitted by: the meowking
Region: Honolulu County, Hawaii, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Apr 03, 2022
Observation date: Dec 25, 2018
Submitted by: DarleneMaui
Region: Maui County, Hawaii, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Apr 03, 2022
Observation date: Dec 25, 2018
Submitted by: DarleneMaui
Region: Maui County, Hawaii, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Apr 03, 2022
Observation date: Dec 31, 2018
Submitted by: DarleneMaui
Region: Maui County, Hawaii, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Apr 03, 2022
Observation date: Sep 16, 2019
Submitted by: Martin Neil UK
Region: Kauai County, Hawaii, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Apr 03, 2022
Observation date: Jul 15, 2005
Submitted by: nilslam
Region: Kauai County, Hawaii, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Apr 03, 2022
Observation date: Mar 21, 2018
Submitted by: cbatara
Region: Honolulu County, Hawaii, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 11, 2022
Observation date: Apr 02, 2019
Submitted by: dtabe
Region: Honolulu County, Hawaii, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 11, 2022
Observation date: Apr 01, 2017
Submitted by: skyzaam
Region: Honolulu County, Hawaii, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 11, 2022
Observation date: Aug 30, 2011
Submitted by: fudge1979
Region: Maui County, Hawaii, United States
Verified by: James F. Snyder
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
Observation date: Dec 17, 2011
Submitted by: fudge1979
Region: Maui County, Hawaii, United States
Verified by: James F. Snyder
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
Observation date: Nov 15, 2010
Submitted by: tcremin
Region: Maui County, Hawaii, United States
Verified by: James F. Snyder
Verified date: May 05, 2011