Heliconiinae
Guides
Agraulis
Agraulis is a subgenus of longwing butterflies (Heliconiinae) within the genus Dione. The group contains at least two species: the widespread Gulf fritillary (Dione vanillae, formerly Agraulis vanillae), found from Argentina to the southern United States with seasonal migrations reaching as far north as New Jersey and San Francisco, and Dione dodona, a recently described species restricted to xeric western slopes of the Andes in Peru and northern Chile. Members are characterized by bright orange and black coloration, association with Passifloraceae host plants, and chemical defense mechanisms.
Agraulis incarnata
Gulf Fritillary
Agraulis incarnata, commonly known as the Gulf Fritillary, is a brush-footed butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. The species is widely distributed across the southern United States, Mexico, Central America, and South America. Adults 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 host plants for chemical defense. The species is a sporadic migrant in northern parts of its range, occasionally establishing temporary colonies before winter mortality.
Argynnini
Fritillaries
Argynnini is a tribe of brush-footed butterflies in the subfamily Heliconiinae, commonly known as fritillaries. The group comprises roughly 100 species worldwide, with approximately 30 species in North America. Recent molecular phylogenetic studies have substantially revised generic boundaries within the tribe, with several formerly recognized genera now synonymized under Argynnis and Boloria, while others such as Speyeria and Fabriciana have been reinstated as distinct. Members of this tribe are characterized by their often bright orange and black patterned wings and their ecological associations with specific larval host plants, primarily violets (Viola) and related species.
Dione
silverspot butterflies
Dione is a genus of butterflies in the subfamily Heliconiinae, family Nymphalidae, distributed from the southern United States through Central America to South America. Species in this genus are commonly known as silverspot butterflies due to the distinctive silver spots on the ventral wing surfaces. The genus includes at least two recognized species: Dione moneta (Mexican Silverspot) and Dione juno (Juno Silverspot or Juno Longwing). Adults are medium-sized butterflies with elongated wings and are frequently observed visiting flowers for nectar. Larvae feed on passion vines (Passiflora species).
Dione moneta
Mexican silverspot
Dione moneta, commonly known as the Mexican silverspot, is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae, subfamily Heliconiinae. Its normal range extends from Mexico through Central America to Brazil, with occasional strays northward into the southern United States. The species is named after the Roman goddess Moneta, representing fortune and wealth. A notable vagrant record occurred in Colorado in April 2017, representing a significant northward extension of its documented range.
Euptoieta
fritillary butterflies
Euptoieta is a genus of fritillary butterflies in the subfamily Heliconiinae, distributed throughout the Neotropical region and extending northward into temperate North America. The genus includes approximately eight described species, with Euptoieta claudia (variegated fritillary) and Euptoieta hegesia (Mexican fritillary) being the most widely recognized. Members of this genus are characterized by their orange and black wing patterns and their ecological association with Viola (violet) species as larval host plants.
Speyeria cybele krautwurmi
Great Spangled Fritillary
Speyeria cybele krautwurmi is a subspecies of the great spangled fritillary butterfly, recognized by Holland in 1931. It belongs to a species complex known for visual-based navigation to habitat patches and close ecological ties to violet host plants. The subspecies occurs in northern North America, with records from the Canadian Prairie provinces and Vermont.
Speyeria mormonia bischoffii
Speyeria mormonia bischoffii is a subspecies of Mormon fritillary butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is part of the greater fritillary genus Speyeria, which includes numerous species distributed across North America. Like other Speyeria, it likely exhibits the characteristic orange and black wing patterning with silvery spots on the undersides typical of the genus. The subspecific epithet honors an individual associated with its discovery or study.