Agraulis incarnata

Gulf Fritillary

Agraulis incarnata, commonly known as the Gulf Fritillary, is a in the Nymphalidae. The is widely distributed across the southern United States, Mexico, Central America, and South America. are characterized by bright orange upper wings with black markings and three white spots on the forewing. The caterpillars feed exclusively on passionflower vines (Passiflora spp.), sequestering cyanogenic glycosides from their plants for chemical defense. The species is a sporadic migrant in northern parts of its range, occasionally establishing temporary colonies before winter mortality.

Gulf fritillary (Agraulis vanillae) caterpillar on Passiflora incarnata by Rotareneg. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.Agraulis vanillae incarnata by Clinton & Charles Robertson from Del Rio, Texas & College Station, TX, USA. Used under a CC BY-SA 2.0 license.Passiflora incarnata flower and bud by E.nielsen. Used under a CC BY-SA 3.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Agraulis incarnata: //əˈɡraʊlɪs ɪnˌkɑrnəˈteɪtə//

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

have bright orange wing surfaces with black markings and three distinct white spots on the forewing. The undersides are brown with large silvery spots. Caterpillars are orange with black branched spines and black stripes. Similar to Agraulis vanillae, with which it has been synonymized in some treatments; reliable separation requires examination of genitalic characters.

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Distribution

Southern United States from Florida west to California and north to Missouri; Mexico; Central America; South America. Northern are sporadic and temporary, established by migrants that do not survive winter.

Seasonality

Year-round in southern portions of range; summer colonies in northern areas until first hard freeze.

Diet

Larvae feed exclusively on passionflower vines (Passiflora spp.), particularly maypop (P. incarnata). feed on nectar from various flowers including passionflower, , and others.

Host Associations

  • Passiflora incarnata - larval food plantprimary ; larvae sequester cyanogenic glycosides for defense
  • Passiflora spp. - larval food plant-level association

Life Cycle

Complete with four stages: , larva (caterpillar), pupa (chrysalis), and . Caterpillars feed gregariously on passionflower foliage before pupating. Multiple per year in favorable climates.

Behavior

are strong fliers. Males patrol territories and engage in aerial pursuits of females and rival males. Caterpillars feed openly on plant foliage, advertising their chemical protection through bright aposematic coloration. Adults may be attracted to fermenting sap flows.

Ecological Role

of various flowering plants. Larvae function as herbivores on passionflower vines. The serves as a model for studies of chemical and mimicry complexes.

Human Relevance

Popular in and educational settings due to its bright coloration and easily reared caterpillars. Occasionally used in classroom demonstrations. Not an agricultural pest despite larval feeding on passionflower.

Similar Taxa

  • Agraulis vanillaeHistorically treated as a separate or synonym; morphologically very similar with overlapping range; reliable identification requires genitalic examination
  • Dryas iuliaSimilar orange and black pattern but lacks white forewing spots; has more elongated wings
  • Euptoieta hegesiaSimilar size and coloration but with more extensive black markings and different wing shape

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Sources and further reading