Detailing the physical features, habits, territorial reach and other identifying qualities of the Gulf Fritillary Butterfly
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Image Credit: Arch Baker
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Image Credit: Kimberly G.
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Image Credit: Barry M., taken at the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, FL
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Image Credit: Arch Baker
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Image Credit: Barry M. from Hahira, GA
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Image Credit: Arch Baker
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Image Credit: Image copyright www.InsectIdentification.org; No Reproduction Permitted
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Image Credit: Image copyright www.InsectIdentification.org; No Reproduction Permitted
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Image Credit: Debbie R. from Baton Rouge, LA
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Image Credit: Debbie R. from Baton Rouge, LA
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Image Credit: Arch Baker
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Image Credit: Arch Baker
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Image Credit: Arch Baker
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Image Credit: Image copyright www.InsectIdentification.org; No Reproduction Permitted
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Image Credit: Image copyright www.InsectIdentification.org; No Reproduction Permitted
The widespread Gulf Fritillary Butterfly is colorful, fast, and a regional favorite in the warm and humid U.S. and Mexican states near the Gulf of Mexico.
This tropical butterfly has short hairs on its front legs, making it part of the 'brush-footed' butterfly family. They are fast flyers and usually stay at heights that are above human reach. In the warm climates that it lives in, many broods (generations) are likely to rise in one year and the butterflies are most active from spring to late autumn.
The Gulf Fritillary is orange with black markings and white spots. The front edge of the wings has three white dots with black rings; one is solitary, but the other two are paired. Three prominent black dots sit near the middle of the forewings and a larger black comma sits on the hindwings. The underside of the forewings has a blush of red near its base. The same white spots on the top side are visible on underneath as well. Each hindwing is covered with oblong white shapes, one of which is broken. The long, slender orange body has narrow white stripes running down the length of it. The head has white freckles at the crown, orange eyes, and a white jaw that extends upward.
The caterpillar is reddish-brown with orange-brown stripes. It has two horns at the head and rows of sharp, black spines. It is not a caterpillar that lends itself to touching or handling. In addition to its foreboding appearance, the caterpillars, as well as the butterflies, are poisonous. The larvae feed on passion flower vines which contain a toxic chemical that stays in the body, rendering it lethal to anything that tries to eat it.
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* MAP NOTES: The territorial heat map above showcases (in red) the states and territories of North America where the Gulf Fritillary Butterfly may be found (but is not limited to). This sort of data is useful when attempting to see concentrations of particular species across the continent as well as revealing possible migratory patterns over a species' given lifespan. Some insects are naturally confined by environment, weather, mating habits, food resources and the like while others see widespread expansion across most, or all, of North America. States/Territories shown above are a general indicator of areas inhabited by the Gulf Fritillary Butterfly. Insects generally go where they please, typically driven by diet, environmental changes, and / or mating habits.
Colors: orange; white; black; brown; silver 
