Gulf Fritillary - Hodges#4413
Agraulis incarnata
This record describes Agraulis incarnata (species). Recorded family: Nymphalidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Below, the elongated silvery spots on the butterfly's hind wings and the edge of its forewings are characteristic (though quite similar to the pattering of Dione moneta ). Above, bright orange with black markings around the border and three black-rimmed white spots on each forewing. Larvae are generally orange with black branched spines and greenish-black stripes. There is a larval variant with purple/lavender stripes, seen mostly in Texas. Eggs are yellow, laid singly on leaves of host plants.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Papilionoidea
- Family
- Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
- Subfamily
- Heliconiinae
- Tribe
- Heliconiini
- Genus
- Agraulis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
NM-FL-NJ-CO, CA / W. Indies / Mex. to southern S. Amer. (MPG data) Adults move northward in spring and form temporarily breeding colonies throughout the southeast. Individual vagrants may occasionally reach into the central U.S., but rarely into the Midwest. Starting in late summer and continuing through fall, huge numbers of adults migrate southward into peninsular Florida.
Seasonal Activity
mostly: Mar-Nov (MPG data)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on Passion Flower - Passiflora spp.
Life History
Photo Essay - Mike Quinn
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Agraulis incarnata. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Gulf Fritillary - Hodges#4413 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Troy Bartlett; Additional contributions by Hannah Nendick-Mason , Steve Nanz , Beatriz Moisset , Mike Quinn , David Ferguson , Harsi S. Parker , Kyhl Austin , Hisserdude
Frequently Asked Questions About Gulf Fritillary - Hodges#4413
What is Gulf Fritillary - Hodges#4413?
Gulf Fritillary - Hodges#4413 (Agraulis incarnata) is a species in the family Nymphalidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Gulf Fritillary - Hodges#4413?
Wingspan 63 - 95 mm (2 1/2 - 3 3/4 inches).
How do you identify Gulf Fritillary - Hodges#4413?
Below, the elongated silvery spots on the butterfly's hind wings and the edge of its forewings are characteristic (though quite similar to the pattering of Dione moneta ). Above, bright orange with black markings around the border and three black-rimmed white spots on each forewing. Larvae are generally orange with black branched spines and greenish-black stripes. There is a larval variant with purple/lavender stripes, seen mostly in Texas. Eggs are yellow, laid singly on leaves of host plants.
Where is Gulf Fritillary - Hodges#4413 found?
Range: NM-FL-NJ-CO, CA / W. Indies / Mex. to southern S. Amer. (MPG data) Adults move northward in spring and form temporarily breeding colonies throughout the southeast. Individual vagrants may occasionally reach into the central U.S., but rarely into the Midwest. Starting in late summer and continuing through fall, huge numbers of adults migrate southward into peninsular Florida.
What does Gulf Fritillary - Hodges#4413 eat?
The diet of the Gulf Fritillary - Hodges#4413 includes Larvae feed on Passion Flower - Passiflora spp..
When is Gulf Fritillary - Hodges#4413 active?
Gulf Fritillary - Hodges#4413: seasonal activity - mostly: Mar-Nov (MPG data).
What is the life cycle of a Gulf Fritillary - Hodges#4413?
Photo Essay - Mike Quinn