Gulf Fritillary

Description:

Gulf Fritillary (Agraulis vanillae) feeding at a Jatropha (Jatropha multifida).

Habitat:

The Gulf Fritillary or Passion Butterfly (Agraulis vanillae), is a striking, bright orange butterfly of the family Nymphalidae, subfamily Heliconiinae. These were formerly classified in a separate family, the Heliconiidae or longwing butterflies, and like other longwings this species does have long, rather narrow wings in comparison with other butterflies. It is not closely related to the true fritillaries. It is a medium to large butterfly, with a wingspan of 6–9.5 cm (2.4–3.7 in). Its underwings are buff, with large silvery spots. It takes its name from migrating flights of the butterflies sometimes seen over the Gulf of Mexico. The Gulf Fritillary is commonly seen in parks and gardens, as well as in open country. Its range extends from Argentina through Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean to the southern United States, as far north as the San Francisco Bay Area on the west coast. It is occasionally found farther north in the US. (credit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_Fritil...) The Jatropha (Jatropha multifida), aka coral plant, physic nut, Guatemala rhubarb, is a shrub or small tree with a single trunk, a loose, spreading crown and a typical height in cultivation of 6-10 ft (1.8-3.1 m), although it can grow up to 20 ft (6.1 m) tall. The very distinctive leaves are large, growing up to 12 in (30.5 cm) wide. They are cut deeply into 7-11 narrow lobes with the margins of each lobe themselves dissected into narrow pointed segments. They are dark green above and whitish beneath. The flowers are bright coral red and borne in flat-topped clusters on long stalks held high above the foliage. Coral plant blooms on and off all year long, and especially during hot weather. Most euphorbs have a milky sap that flows from broken stems, but that of coral plant looks more like cloudy water. Coral plant occurs naturally in Mexico, and southward through Central America to Brazil. It is a popular landscape specimen in South Florida. (credit: http://www.floridata.com/ref/j/jatr_mul....)