Table of Contents
Overview
Brief Summary
Introduction
The Gulf fritillary, Agraulis vanillae, is a widespread, geographically variable neotropical species that occurs from the south central U. S. to southern South America. Lamas (2004) lists a second, undescribed species in the genus from Peru.
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Distribution
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 )
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National Distribution
United States
Origin: Native
Regularity: Regularly occurring
Currently: Present
Confidence: Confident
Type of Residency: Year-round
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Global Range: (>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)) Southernmost United States south through Mexico to Argentina. Also present in Hawaii. Sometimes emigrates north to Great Lakes and Rocky Mountains. Range greatly expanded with cultivation of host plants however not freeze hardy.
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Physical Description
Morphology
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.
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Ecology
Habitat
Habitat
The Gulf Fritillary prefers subtropical second growth, woodland edges, brushy fields, and city gardens.
Terrestrial Biomes: savanna or grassland ; forest ; rainforest ; scrub forest
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Comments: Open fields, canyons, or even city gardens, with Passiflora hosts, particularly Passiflora incarnata. Not really in forest but does occur in more open southeastern pinelands. Permanent populations rquire virtually frost-free climate.
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Migration
Non-Migrant: No. All populations of this species make significant seasonal migrations.
Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make local extended movements (generally less than 200 km) at particular times of the year (e.g., to breeding or wintering grounds, to hibernation sites).
Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make annual migrations of over 200 km.
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Trophic Strategy
Food Habits
The Gulf Fritillary feeds on Maypops and other passion-vine species. Passion Flower is the larval foodplant.
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Population Biology
Number of Occurrences
Note: For many non-migratory species, occurrences are roughly equivalent to populations.
Estimated Number of Occurrences: 81 to >300
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Life History and Behavior
Life Cycle
Life History
Early stages: Eggs are yellow and approximately 1 x 0.8 mm (h x w). Females place eggs singly on leaves of the host plant. Mature larvae are approximately 1.2 cm long. Caterpillars are gregarious in small numbers (Brown, 1981).
Agraulis vanillae larva. © David Cappaert.
Agraulis vanillae larva getting ready to pupate (left, © Jerry A. Payne, USDA ARS), pupa (center, © Katja Schulz), freshly eclosed butterfly (right, © Jerry A. Payne, USDA ARS).
Agraulis occurs in scrubs and fields. Usually individuals fly rapidly. Females mate multiply, and adults roost at night in loose groups, lower than 2 m above the ground in grass blades and leaves (Brown, 1981).
Hostplant: Agraulis is polyphagous, and larvae feed primarily on plants from the subgenera Granadilla and Distephana (Passifloraceae) (Brown, 1981).
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Reproduction
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.
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Molecular Biology and Genetics
Molecular Biology
Barcode data: Agraulis vanillae
There are 15 barcode sequences available from BOLD and GenBank. Below is a sequence of the barcode region Cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI or COX1) from a member of the species. See the BOLD taxonomy browser for more complete information about this specimen and other sequences.
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Download FASTA File
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Statistics of barcoding coverage: Agraulis vanillae
Public Records: 13
Species: 46
Species With Barcodes: 1
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Conservation
Conservation Status
National NatureServe Conservation Status
United States
Rounded National Status Rank: N5 - Secure
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NatureServe Conservation Status
Rounded Global Status Rank: G5 - Secure
Reasons: Widespread and common in Neotropics. Tolerates disturbance and uses open areas.
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Threats
Degree of Threat: D : Unthreatened throughout its range, communities may be threatened in minor portions of the range or degree of variation falls within natural variation
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Management
Global Protection: Many to very many (13 to >40) occurrences appropriately protected and managed
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Relevance to Humans and Ecosystems
Benefits
Economic Importance for Humans: Negative
No documented examples.
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Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
No documented examples.
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Wikipedia
Gulf Fritillary
The Gulf Fritillary or Passion Butterfly, Agraulis vanillae, is a striking, bright orange butterfly of the family Nymphalidae, subfamily Heliconiinae. These were formerly classified in a separate family, the Heliconiidae or longwing butterflies, and like other longwings this species does have long, rather narrow wings in comparison with other butterflies. It is not closely related to the true fritillaries. It is a medium to large butterfly, with a wingspan of 6–9.5 cm (2.4–3.7 in). Its underwings are buff, with large silvery spots.[1] It takes its name from migrating flights of the butterflies sometimes seen over the Gulf of Mexico.
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The Gulf Fritillary is commonly seen in parks and gardens, as well as in open country. Its range extends from Argentina through Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean to the southern United States, as far north as the San Francisco Bay Area on the west coast. It is occasionally found farther north in the US.[2]
Larva
The larva or caterpillar of the Gulf Fritillary grows to approximately 4 cm (1.6 in) in length and is bright orange in color and covered in rows of black spines on its head and back. The spines are soft to the touch and do not sting. However, the larvae are poisonous if eaten, as the bright coloration advertises. The larvae feed exclusively on species of passion flower such as Maypop (Passiflora incarnata), Yellow Passionflower (P. lutea) and Running Pop (P. foetida).
Their toxic flesh provides Gulf Fritillary caterpillars with excellent protection from predators.[3] Many birds avoid them.[4] Some specialized insects are observed feeding on them, however, and larger caterpillars sometimes eat smaller ones. This species belongs to the "orange" Batesian mimicry complex.
The chrysalis is approximately 3 cm (1.2 in) long; it is mottled brown and looks like a dry leaf.
Cultivation of passion flowers in gardens has enabled the Gulf Fritillary to extend its range, for example into new areas of southern and northern California.
References
- ^ Rauser, C. L., & Rutowski, R. L. (2003). "Male-specific structures on the wings of the gulf fritillary butterfly, Agraulis vanillae (Nymphalidae)." Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society 57(4): 279–283.
- ^ Whan, P. W., & Belth, J. E. (1992). "Second Ohio record of Agraulis vanillae (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae)." Ohio Journal of Science 92(4): 121–122.
- ^ Ross, G. N., Fales, H. M., Lloyd, H. A., Jones, T., Sokoloski, E. A., Marshall, B. K., et al. (2001). "Novel chemistry of abdominal defensive glands of nymphalid butterfly Agraulis vanillae." Journal of Chemical Ecology 27(6): 1219–1228.
- ^ Pinheiro, C. E. G. (1996). "Palatability and escaping ability in Neotropical butterflies: tests with wild kingbirds (Tyrannus melancholicus, Tyrannidae)." Biol. J. Linn. Soc. 59(4): 351–365. HTML abstract
- Darby, Gene (1958). What is a Butterfly. Chicago: Benefic Press. p. 36.
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