Variegated Frittary – Euptoieta Claudia

Variegated Fritillary – Euptoieta Claudia Scientific Name: Euptoieta Claudia Common Name: Variegated Fritillary Distribution: Florida and the Southern Plains extend eastward from Southern California. emigrates as far north as the Northwest Territories on occasion. extends southwest to Argentina as well. Host plants: A variety of plants belonging to several families, such as moonseed, violets, purslane, maypops, and may apple. Identification: Though they are rarely observed in great numbers, variegated fritillaries are common inhabitants of open, sunny places that support host and nectar plants.  They are a little tricky to approach and are often startled.  Their upper-wing surfaces have a brilliant orange color, yet they appear to vanish when perched with their wings closed, resembling dried leaves. The Greater Fritillaries (Speyarias) and Longwings (Heliconias) are separated by Variegated Fritillaries. They are smaller than Greater Fritillaries, but they have rounder wings that are reddish orange. Their caterpillars consume violets, just as the Greater Fritillaries, but they also consume passionflowers, which are the only host of the Longwings. Life Cycle: Overwintering as caterpillars, pansyworms consume plants belonging to the same family as violets, alyssum, pansies, and Johnny-jump-up. There are reports of their butterflies spending the winter further south. From early spring to late fall, variegated fritillaries can be seen flying here. Variegated fritillaries, a new generation of orange butterflies with speckled or checkered wings, emerge from the caterpillars’ chrysalis (pupa) in the spring. Females deposit cream to pale green eggs on the host plant following mating. The larvae consume stems, flowers, and leaves. In North Carolina, there are two or three generations every year. Damage: For the fritillary caterpillar, leaves from plants including moonseed, maypops, may apple, purslane, and stonecrop be suitable food. Adults enjoy flowers, and they appear to particularly enjoy yellow composites and thistles. They also frequent moist areas a lot.