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Nymphalidae (Heliconians)•Egg to adult: 25 days

Gulf Fritillary

Agraulis vanillae

Darwin Core (DwC) Taxonomic Classification

Agraulis vanillae (Linnaeus, 1758)

OrderLepidoptera
FamilyNymphalidae
GenusAgraulis
Speciesvanillae

Quick Rearing Snapshot & Biology Overview

Rearing and biology notes for Gulf Fritillary

Instant Answers
Host Plants

Purple Passionflower / Maypop (Passiflora incarnata), Corkystem Passionflower (Passiflora suberosa), Yellow Passionflower (Passiflora lutea)

Life Cycle Time

~25 Days total (Egg → Butterfly)

Winter Behavior

Pupal Diapause (Does Not Migrate)

Pupation Anchor

Vertical J-Hang

Thermal Degree-Day Hatch SimulatorInteractive

Slide ambient temperature to see how heat accelerates metamorphosis for Gulf Fritillary

75°F / 24°C
65°F (Cool / Slow)75°F (Optimal Room Temp)85°F (Warm / Fast)
Egg Incubation~4 Days
Larval Instars~12 Days
Chrysalis / Pupa~9 Days
Total Metamorphosis~25 Days

*Calculated via standard insect thermal summation models (base threshold 50°F / 10°C).

PLATE III • FIG. 3A•Taxonomic Plate • ADULT

Gulf Fritillary

Agraulis vanillae (Linnaeus, 1758) — Nymphalidae • Heliconiinae

5 cm Scale
•
Metallic Silver Plates
•
Elongated Forewing
•
White Basal Ocelli
•
Marginal Chevrons
Key Diagnostic Field Identifiers:
  • Elongated, narrow bright orange/rufous wings with black-rimmed white spots near costa
  • Ventral wings adorned with dazzling mirror-like metallic silver plates (silver leaf markings)
  • Three white-centered black circles in forewing cell
  • Trailing wing margins marked with bold black inverted chevrons
:4 Days
:12 Days
:9 Days
:~25 Days

Larval Host Flora:

Silo 02 Botany

Only supply fresh, pesticide-free foliage from these verified native botanical species:

  • •Purple Passionflower / Maypop (Passiflora incarnata)
  • •Corkystem Passionflower (Passiflora suberosa)
  • •Yellow Passionflower (Passiflora lutea)

Key Husbandry Tips

Silo 04 Husbandry
  • •Caterpillars are bright orange with branching black spines (these spines are soft and harmless to humans).
  • •Passiflora incarnata (native maypop) is the host it uses in the wild. Non-native red passionflowers such as Passiflora caerulea and coccinea can be toxic to larvae.
  • •Chrysalises look remarkably like dried, curled brown leaves.

Frequently Asked Questions (Gulf Fritillary)

Direct answers to the most common rearing, diet, and metamorphosis questions

Q&A Hub
Metamorphosis typically takes ~25 days from oviposition to adult eclosion at 75°F (24°C).

Master Research Guides for Gulf Fritillary

Rearing protocols, lifecycle stages, and field husbandry

Field Notes
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Region: Southeast, Southwest