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 6038 verified sightings
Observation date: Sep 09, 2024
Submitted by: Lydiaak
Region: Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Sep 09, 2024
Observation date: Sep 06, 2024
Submitted by: Eric Hartshaw
Region: Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Sep 09, 2024
Observation date: Aug 04, 2024
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Sep 07, 2024
Observation date: Sep 01, 2024
Submitted by: bonfrey
Region: Socorro County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 04, 2024
Observation date: Aug 30, 2024
Submitted by: Brad DeLaney
Region: Jefferson County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Aug 31, 2024
Observation date: Aug 21, 2024
Submitted by: mathgeek
Region: Jackson County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 29, 2024
Observation date: Aug 28, 2024
Submitted by: tmlehman
Region: Allen County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 29, 2024
Observation date: Jul 31, 2023
Submitted by: godibec
Region: Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 28, 2024
Observation date: Jul 20, 2024
Submitted by: Jgrugeon
Region: Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 26, 2024
Observation date: Aug 22, 2024
Submitted by: Benjamin Miller
Region: Knox County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 23, 2024
Observation date: Aug 11, 2024
Submitted by: dettdetect74
Region: Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 19, 2024
Observation date: Aug 14, 2024
Submitted by: rjgrycki
Region: Burke County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Aug 14, 2024
Observation date: Aug 13, 2024
Submitted by: ButtahflyEtn37354
Region: Monroe County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 14, 2024
Observation date: Aug 14, 2024
Submitted by: Colleen K
Region: Robertson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 14, 2024
Observation date: Mar 17, 2024
Submitted by: dvollmar
Region: Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 10, 2024
Observation date: Aug 06, 2024
Submitted by: ButterBelle
Region: Putnam County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 06, 2024
Observation date: Aug 06, 2024
Submitted by: ButterBelle
Region: Putnam County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 06, 2024
Observation date: Aug 06, 2024
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 06, 2024
Observation date: Jul 20, 2024
Submitted by: Jgrugeon
Region: Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 03, 2024
Observation date: Jul 30, 2024
Submitted by: sweetgrass
Region: Alberta, Canada
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 30, 2024
Observation date: Jul 29, 2024
Submitted by: ButterBelle
Region: Putnam County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 30, 2024
Observation date: Jul 26, 2024
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Pennington County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 29, 2024
Observation date: Jul 27, 2024
Submitted by: Steven Wilson
Region: Nicholas County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 28, 2024
Observation date: Jul 19, 2024
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Union County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 24, 2024
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