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 49 - 72 of 6040 verified sightings
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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
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/dscn0945_2.jpg?itok=xUJVvlB9)
Observation date: Jul 19, 2024
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Union County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 24, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/butterfly_15_-_copy.jpg?itok=FsMPt5ct)
Observation date: Jul 14, 2024
Submitted by: moosemdg
Region: Moore County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Jul 24, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/jwk_2436.jpg?itok=CZkd7ptF)
Observation date: Jun 25, 2024
Submitted by: Jon Kindschy
Region: Gunnison County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jul 23, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/pxl_20240702_172100925_bamona-subd.jpg?itok=pZ6Yf0v6)
Observation date: Jul 02, 2024
Submitted by: mathgeek
Region: Jackson County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 20, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_2432_3.jpeg?itok=UHQ83LUV)
Observation date: Jul 19, 2024
Submitted by: Elfin
Region: Sussex County, Delaware, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 20, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/dsc_0671_4.jpg?itok=bg9VIyef)
Observation date: Jul 13, 2024
Submitted by: hockeybruce7
Region: Monroe County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 13, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/variegated_fritillary_jm_beach_7-8-24.jpg?itok=GvXgqK2A)
Observation date: Jul 08, 2024
Submitted by: mtobin11
Region: Lake County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 11, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/20240626_euptoieta_claudia_-_roam_free_park_chamberlain_sd.jpg?itok=fFuvP_F2)
Observation date: Jun 26, 2024
Submitted by: naj.pilla
Region: Brule County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 08, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/variegated_frit_6.jpg?itok=l3dBX-6G)
Observation date: Jul 01, 2024
Submitted by: ButterBelle
Region: Putnam County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jul 01, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/20240618_115921.jpg?itok=mjwaA1oX)
Observation date: Jun 18, 2024
Submitted by: Christinalea
Region: Texas, Presidio County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jun 19, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/_p4a0849.jpg?itok=ijUBRTNv)
Observation date: Jun 14, 2024
Submitted by: vogelbild
Region: Kane County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 16, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/pxl_20240529_170227715.jpg?itok=8KkA8me8)
Observation date: May 29, 2024
Submitted by: bekkfree
Region: Cowley County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: May 30, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/20240523_euptoieta_claudia_-_sandin_ambler_michigan_city_in_4.jpg?itok=N2eNTUbW)
Observation date: May 23, 2024
Submitted by: naj.pilla
Region: Indiana, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: May 28, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_7319_0.jpeg?itok=SNJ3JtQ-)
Observation date: May 19, 2024
Submitted by: kericson
Region: Polk County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 27, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/dsc02252_1.jpg?itok=2HB9ohW-)
Observation date: May 26, 2024
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Charleston County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: May 27, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/screenshot_20240522_144155_photos.jpg?itok=FDMxinRc)
Observation date: May 16, 2024
Submitted by: pjharvey07
Region: Franklin County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: May 23, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/butterflies12.jpg?itok=Ky6Xyu0Q)
Observation date: May 22, 2024
Submitted by: firedancefarms
Region: Okmulgee County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: May 23, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/dsc07002-2.jpg?itok=iIhimgLl)
Observation date: Jul 15, 2023
Submitted by: chherrmann
Region: Madison County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 22, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/a0e485c8-09c9-467d-bc73-2b1e91b018e8.png?itok=aAQ71v4I)
Observation date: Jul 13, 2022
Submitted by: Team-Chick
Region: Virginia, York County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 22, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/great_spangled_fritillary_58.jpg?itok=8xmUoQcg)
Observation date: Aug 18, 2022
Submitted by: John LeBlanc
Region: Chesterfield County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 22, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/11-25-2022_variegated_fritillary_warhill_power_line_cut.jpeg?itok=LkumlPSX)
Observation date: Nov 25, 2022
Submitted by: Shirley Devan
Region: James City County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 22, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_3037.jpeg?itok=6mP4dX66)
Observation date: Jun 13, 2023
Submitted by: Team-Chick
Region: Newport News, Virginia, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 22, 2024
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Observation date: Jul 30, 2023
Submitted by: SusanPotomac
Region: Orange County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 22, 2024
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