Gulf Fritillary Butterfly

Description:

Medium-sized butterfly in the subfamily Heliconiinae. Very common in Central Florida, especially where Passionflower (Passiflora spp.) is grown, as this is its host plant. Flies 12 months a year here and is often the first to emerge after bad weather.

Habitat:

South America to southern North America, occasional visitor to states further north.

Notes:

This butterfly had most likely just eclosed from chrysalis. It was perched on a leaf and flexing its proboscis, probably to interlock the two channels before feeding for the first time.