Gulf Fritillary Butterflies
are
in our yard most of the spring, summer and fall. There can be a dozen
or more flying at any one time. This is as spectacular as the
flowers on the passion vine that they eat. Fortunately the passion
vine is extraordinarily exuberant in its growth and can usually keep up
with the voracious appetites of the caterpillars. This Gulf
Fritillary was slowed by a cool morning which made for some excellent
viewing. The butterflies over-winter in their cocoons. These are
light brown and attached to the bottom of most any fixed object including
chairs, deck rails, and the bottoms of the eaves. Click
here to see the Gulf Fritillary in profile. The passion vine
grows glands that mimic butterfly eggs on the leaves and petioles in
an effort to dissuade the Gulf Fritillary Butterfly's from laying their
eggs. Gulf Fritillary eggs
can be found on the underside of the passion vine leaves or of the leaves
of nearby plants. We have an extensive list of plants that will
attract these beauties to your butterfly
garden.
This
image is available in high resolution and is part of our stock photo
collection.
