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Project Noah Nature School
Agraulis vanillae
The larva or caterpillar of the Gulf Fritillary Butterfly grows to approximately 4 cm (1.6 in) in length and is bright orange in color and covered in rows of black spines on its head and back. The spines are soft to the touch and do not sting. However, the larvae are poisonous if eaten, as the bright coloration advertises.
Pastures, open fields, second-growth subtropical forest and edges, city gardens. The larvae feed exclusively on species of passion flower such as Maypop (Passiflora incarnata), Yellow Passionflower (P. lutea) and Running Pop (P. foetida). This one was photographed at Brookgreen Gardens near Murrells Inlet, SC.
Their toxic flesh provides Gulf Fritillary caterpillars with excellent protection from predators
Spotted on Sep 20, 2011
Submitted on Mar 24, 2013
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