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By Marie S. Harris
Geographic Range
The Gulf Fritillary is a resident throughout the southern United States down into Mexico, Central America, the West Indies, and South America.
Biogeographic Regions:
nearctic 
(native ); neotropical (native ).
Habitat
The Gulf Fritillary prefers subtropical second growth, woodland edges, brushy fields, and city gardens.
Terrestrial Biomes:
savanna or grassland ; forest ; rainforest ; scrub forest .
Physical Description
The Gulf Artillary has pointed forewings and a wing span of 2.0 to 2.5 inches. The upperside of the butterfly is bright orange with brown and black markings. The underside is a deeper color with distinct elongated silver spots. Females are darker with heavier markings.
Some key physical features:
ectothermic ; bilateral symmetry .
Reproduction
Males search for freshly emerged females. The eggs are laid singly on passion-vines. The egg of the Gulf Fritillary is yellow, oblong, and ribbed. Mature larvae are a dark brown or black with red-orange stripes and rows of complex black spines.
Behavior
The Gulf Fritillary migrates northward to the Central U.S. It can be found in such areas as the Great Basin, the Rockies, the Midwestern United States, and the mid-Atlantic States.
Food Habits
The Gulf Fritillary feeds on Maypops and other passion-vine species. Passion Flower is the larval foodplant.
Economic Importance for Humans: Negative
No documented examples.
Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
No documented examples.
Other Comments
The Gulf Artillary belongs to the subfamily Heliconiinae. Members of this group are unique for collecting pollen in their proboscis. After the pollen is collected it is absorbed through the walls of the proboscis.
For More Information
Find Agraulis vanillae information at
Contributors
Marie S. Harris (author), University of Michigan.
