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 49 - 72 of 4490 verified sightings
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
Observation date: Aug 24, 2024
Submitted by: Caseyd86
Region: Greene County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Aug 29, 2024
Observation date: Aug 29, 2024
Submitted by: GLG
Region: Okaloosa County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 29, 2024
Observation date: Aug 29, 2024
Submitted by: Sheilabean
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 29, 2024
Observation date: Aug 28, 2024
Submitted by: Sheilabean
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 29, 2024
Observation date: Aug 28, 2024
Submitted by: Mtmccullagh
Region: Gulf County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 28, 2024
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 25, 2024
Submitted by: ButtahflyEtn37354
Region: Monroe County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 28, 2024
Observation date: Aug 24, 2024
Submitted by: Agriner13
Region: Cherokee County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Aug 28, 2024
Observation date: Aug 08, 2024
Submitted by: Michelleb2462
Region: Douglas County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Aug 28, 2024
Observation date: Sep 30, 2023
Submitted by: ButtahflyEtn37354
Region: Monroe County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 27, 2024
Observation date: Aug 25, 2024
Submitted by: Yosoydeaqui
Region: Polk County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 27, 2024
Observation date: Aug 15, 2024
Submitted by: kye
Region: Greenville County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Aug 26, 2024
Observation date: Aug 24, 2024
Submitted by: Bobtat
Region: Trigg County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Aug 24, 2024
Observation date: Aug 24, 2024
Submitted by: ebea
Region: Davidson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 24, 2024
Observation date: Aug 21, 2024
Submitted by: ButtahflyEtn37354
Region: Monroe County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 22, 2024
Observation date: Aug 22, 2024
Submitted by: FletcherImages
Region: Lexington County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Aug 22, 2024
Observation date: Aug 16, 2024
Submitted by: ButterBelle
Region: Putnam County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 16, 2024
Observation date: Aug 16, 2024
Submitted by: ceilithe
Region: Collin County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 16, 2024
Observation date: Aug 15, 2024
Submitted by: UpstateSCnaturalist
Region: Oconee County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Aug 16, 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
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