Wonders of Wildlife: Gulf Fritillary

Gulf Fritillary

Other Common Names: Passion Butterfly

Scientific Name: Agraulis vanillae

Found in Alabama: Statewide

Diet: Herbivore (eats plants)

Gulf Fritillary Butterfly in Habitat
Paul Brennan

Learn More About...

Classification

IDENTIFICATION

Adaptations

Life Cycle

Habitat Needs

Ecological Role

CLASSIFICATION

Scientists use basic traits to
group animals into different taxonomic
classes.

For a taxonomic classification chart comparing key traits of common backyard wildlife,
CLICK HERE!

What type of animal am I?

I am a vertebrate (an animal with a spine or backbone).
I am cold-blooded, so I cannot control my body temperature.
I have a stiff covering on the outside of my body called an exoskeleton.
I breathe through small holes in my abdomen called spiracles.
I have six legs.
I have wings.

The Gulf Fritillary is an INSECT!

IDENTIFICATION TIPS

ADULT BUTTERFLY

Wingspan ranges from 2 – 3.5 inches
Wings are elongated, and forewings are pointed
Body is bright orange with brown, black, and white markings
Forewings each have three black rimmed white spots
Wings are darker orange on the underside and have long silvery white spots

Gulf Fritillary Butterfly
Wikimedia – Judy Gallagher

FEMALE

Larger than males
Darker/deeper orange in color
with more prominent dark markings

Eastern Screech Owl in Habitat
Flickr – Ashley Wahlberg (Tubbs)

MALE

Smaller than females
Less deep orange than females
with less prominent markings

Eastern Screech Owl in Habitat
Flickr – Ashley Wahlberg (Tubbs)

EGGS

About the size of a pinhea
Obolong and yellow with vertical ridges

Gulf Fritillary Egg
Lonnie Huffman

CATERPILLAR (LARVAE)

Appear a reddish orange in color
or dark brown or black with red-
orange stripes running along the body
Rows of branched, black spines

Young Gulf Fritillary Caterpillar
Dreamstime

Older Gulf Fritillary Caterpillar
Dreamstime

CHRYSALIS

Elongated and curved
Mottled Brown in color
Resembles a dead leaf

Gulf Fritillary Chrysalis
Dreamstime

PHYSICAL AND BEHAVIORAL ADAPTATIONS

PHYSICAL ADAPTATIONS

Gulf Fritillaries taste bad to predators:

As the caterpillars feed on passionflower plants, they absorb the toxins (poison produced by a living organism) from the plant.
These toxins are stored in their bodies and remain present when they emerge as adult butterflies.
The toxins they ingest when feeding on the host plant make them taste bad to predators (animals that eat them).
Their bright orange color acts as a warning signal to predators.

Gulf Fritillaries avoid predators using scent:

Adult gulf fritillary butterflies have a gland on the abdomen that releases a chemical when the butterfly is disturbed.
The scent deters larger predators (animals that eat them) from consuming them.

Gulf Fritillaries have long straw-like mouthparts:

All butterflies and moths have a long straw-shaped mouthpart (similar to a tongue) called a proboscis that they use to collect nectar from flowers.
The proboscis has two long tubes (like straws) that soak up the nectar deep inside the flower, and then the nectar travels up through the tubes for the butterfly to drink it.
When the proboscis is not in use, it curls up tightly against the front of the head of the butterfly.
To see how a proboscis works and to learn why scientists are studying the proboscis, watch Science Nation’s 3-minute video.
Gulf fritillaries and other members of the same group are known for collecting pollen in the proboscis and are able to absorb pollen through the wall of the proboscis.

Gulf Fritillary on Flower
Wikimedia – John Flannery

Butterflies have compound eyes:

Butterfly vision is completely different than human vision.
While humans have the ability to focus on something far away and can see fine details, a butterfly’s vision appears blurry to them because they have compound eyes (many individual lenses that combine to form one image).
Butterflies have special structures that allow them to see different types of light than humans, helping them locate flowers and communicate with each other.
They are also able to see a more wide view around them rather than just in front of them, allowing them to detect and escape any threats.

BEHAVIORAL ADAPTATIONS

Gulf Fritillaries are diurnal:

They are active during the day (diurnal).

Gulf Fritillaries communicate with one another:

Male gulf fritillaries do a “wing clap display” in order to attract females.
The male perches and flaps its wings open and shut as a display for the female.
The males also release pheromones (chemicals) that the female should recognize.

Gulf Fritillaries are migratory:

Gulf fritillaries are native to the southern United States, Mexico, Central America, and South America.
In the spring, gulf fritillary butterflies migrate (move as a group from one location to another) north toward central United States to breed.
They cannot tolerate colder weather, so they migrate back down to the southern portions of their range in the late summer and fall where the last generation will overwinter.

LIFE CYCLE

Stages of a Gulf Fritillary’s Life Cycle
Wikimedia – Bugboy52.40

Metamorphosis is the process of physical change that some animals go through as they transform from a larvae into an adult.

Four Life Cycle Stages of the American Bullfrog

Stage 1: Egg

Females lay a single hard-shelled egg at a time on leaves of their host plant (the passionflower vine).
They have several broods (groups of young) per season. A tiny caterpillar (larvae)
The caterpillar hatches from its egg 3-5 days later.

Stage 2: Tadpole

The baby caterpillar spends 11-16 days eating its host plant and growing.
When it becomes too large for its skin, it molts (sheds its skin).
The intervals between molts are called instars.

Stage 3: Pupa

The caterpillar pupates in a head-up position.
Its skin splits, and the curved, brown chrysalis (butterfly pupa enclosed in a protective covering) forms. Inside the chrysalis, the caterpillar undergoes metamorphosis in about 11-21 days.

Stage 4: Adult

The adult butterfly emerges from the chrysalis (butterfly pupa enclosed in a protective covering), and then waits to allow its wings to inflate and dry before it flies away.

Lifespan

The average life span of the adult butterfly is 14 – 27 days.

Gulf Fritillary Egg
Dreamstime

Gulf Fritillary Butterfly Recently Emerged
Dreamstime

HABITAT NEEDS

Natural Habitat Needs	Adults	Young
Food	Adult butterflies feed on the nectar of maypops and other passion-vine species. They will also feed on nectar of other nectar producing species like Lantana, Zinnia, Aster, Verbena, Thistle.	The caterpillars feed exclusively pasionflower vine, their host plant.
Water	Hydration is obtained by using their long, straw-like mouthparts while collecting nectar of native flowering plants. They will also drink from puddles or mud to get salt and other minerals.	Hydration is obtained while feeding on the leaves and stems of host plant.
Shelter	They prefer to live in open, sunny habitats including roadsides, fields, open woodlands, pastures, and yards.	Eggs are deposited on the leaves and stems of the host plant (passionflower vine). Caterpillars remain on plant until they are ready to undergo metamorphosis (physical change from larva to adult), at which point the chrysalis (butterfly pupa enclosed in a protective covering) hangs under a well-covered area.
Places to Raise Young	Females lay eggs on leaves and stems of host plant. Adults do not raise the young, but the plant provides a food source for the caterpillars as soon as they hatch.

If you want to offer resources in your backyard habitat for this species, consider the suggestions below.

Backyard Habitat Needs	Adults	Young
Food	Plant native nectar producing plants such as red clover, lantana, phlox, and thistle.	Plant passionflower vine.
Water	Plant nectar-producing plants. Add puddling stations or a small, shallow pond.
Shelter	Plant nectar-producing plants.
Places to Raise Young	Plant passionflower vine.

ECOLOGICAL ROLE

Animals play an important ecological role in the health of habitats and ecosystems.

Food Source:

Caterpillar and adult gulf fritillary butterflies contain a toxin (poison produced by living things) that makes taste bad to birds.
Caterpillars are eaten by invertebrates (animals without a spine or backbone) like wasps, lady beetles, and spiders.

Pollinator:

Adult gulf fritillary butterflies serve as pollinators (animals that move pollen, the powdery yellow substance found in flowers, from one plant to another) for native wildflowers by transferring pollen among flowers while they are foraging for nectar.

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