Gulf Fritillary
Dione vanillae
Last reviewed: May 2026
Gulf Fritillary is known for its bright orange wings with black markings.
Host plants
Gulf Fritillary caterpillars can only develop on their larval host plants. Plant one of these natives and you can host the full life cycle in your own yard (host plant associations per the Xerces Society (opens in new tab)).
- Purple Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata)
- Passiflora edulis — see Birdwing Passionflower (same genus)
- Corkystem Passionflower (Passiflora suberosa)
Want Gulf Fritillary in your yard? Open Purple Passionflower in Pollinator Patch and plan an HOA-friendly garden around it for your region.
Family
Nymphalidae
Wingspan
64–95 mm
Active
April through October
Range
CA, TX, FL, GA and 18 more states
How to identify it
Recognize by its bright orange wings with black veining and distinctive silver spots on the underside of wings.
Good to know
- Known for incredible migratory patterns across the southwestern United States
- Larvae are bright orange with black spines as a defense mechanism
- Highly adapted to urban and suburban garden environments
Common questions
- What do Gulf Fritillary caterpillars eat?
- Gulf Fritillary caterpillars feed on Passiflora incarnata, Passiflora edulis, and Passiflora suberosa. These are the larval host plants the caterpillars must have to develop, per the Xerces Society and host plant records compiled from GBIF and iNaturalist.
- Where do Gulf Fritillary live?
- Gulf Fritillary is found across CA, TX, FL, GA and 18 more states.
- When are Gulf Fritillary active?
- Adult Gulf Fritillary are typically on the wing from April through October.
Range and life-history data compiled from iNaturalist (opens in new tab), GBIF, and the Xerces Society. Photo licensed cc-by.