Euptoieta claudia

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Variegated fritillary
Variegated Fritillary, Megan McCarty83.jpg
Status TNC G5.svg
Secure  (NatureServe) [1]
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Genus: Euptoieta
Species:
E. claudia
Binomial name
Euptoieta claudia
(Cramer, 1775)

Euptoieta claudia, the variegated fritillary, is a North and South American butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. Even though the variegated fritillary has some very different characteristics from the Speyeria fritillaries, it is still closely related to them. Some of the differences are: variegated fritillaries have two or three broods per year vs. one per year in Speyeria; they are nomadic vs. sedentary; and they use a wide range of host plants vs. just violets. And because of their use of passionflowers as a host plant, variegated fritillaries also have taxonomic links to the heliconians. Their flight is low and swift, but even when resting or nectaring, this species is extremely difficult to approach, and, because of this, its genus name was taken from the Greek word euptoietos meaning "easily scared". [2]

Contents

Description

Underside of wings Variegated Fritillary - underside.JPG
Underside of wings

The upperside of the wings is checkered with orange and black. Both the forewing and hindwing have a row of submarginal black spots and black median lines running across the wings. [3] [4] The underside of the forewing is orange with a pale orange spot rimmed in black in the forewing cell. The underside of the hindwing is mottled with browns and grays with a pale postmedian band. There is no silvering. [4] The wingspan measures 1.75–2.25 inches (44–57 mm). [5]

Similar species

In the variegated fritillary's range, the only similar species is the Mexican fritillary ( Euptoieta hegesia ). The Mexican fritillary is brighter orange, the upper side of its hindwing basal area is unmarked, and the underside of its wings is plainer, with no submarginal spots or median black lines. [3] [4]

Flight period

This species may be seen flying from April to October in the south, while in the north it flies from summer to early fall. [6] [7]

Habitat

This butterfly is often found in open, disturbed habitats such as clover and alfalfa fields, pastures, fields, waste areas, roadsides, and mountain meadows. [2] [8]

Nectar plants

Here is a list of some of the flowers that the variegated fritillary uses as nectar plants:

Life cycle

Larva Euptoieta claudia Caterpillar on Onion 3008px.jpg
Larva
Chrysalis Variegated Fritillary Pupa.jpg
Chrysalis

Males actively patrol for females. [2] Females lay their pale-green or cream-colored eggs singly on host plant leaves and stems. The larva eats the leaves, flowers, and stems of the food plant. [2] [11] The larva is red with black subdorsal and spiracular stripes infused with white spotting. In many individuals, the white is more conspicuous than the black. The red middorsal stripe bears white (sometimes black) oval-shaped spots, one per segment. [12] [ page needed ] It has six rows of black spines and has a pair of long, clubbed spines on the head. [13] [ page needed ] [11] The chrysalis is mainly shiny white, with small black spots, a variable amount of brown markings, and orange and gold tubercules. Adults overwinter in the south and fly north each spring and summer. [11] It has 2–3 broods per year. [4]

Host plants

This is a list of host plants used by the variegated fritillary:

Related Research Articles

<i>Passiflora incarnata</i> Species of vine

Passiflora incarnata, commonly known as maypop, purple passionflower, true passionflower, wild apricot, and wild passion vine, is a fast-growing perennial vine with climbing or trailing stems. A member of the passionflower genus Passiflora, the maypop has large, intricate flowers with prominent styles and stamens. One of the hardiest species of passionflower, it is both found as a wildflower in the southern United States and in cultivation for its fruit and striking bluish purple blooms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dark green fritillary</span> Species of butterfly

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Niobe fritillary</span> Species of butterfly

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Queen of Spain fritillary</span> Species of butterfly

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great spangled fritillary</span> Species of butterfly

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<i>Passiflora lutea</i> Species of vine

Passiflora lutea, commonly known as yellow passionflower, is a flowering perennial vine in the family Passifloraceae, native to the central and eastern United States. The vine has three-lobed leaves and small, yellowish-green, fringed flowers that appear in the summer, followed by green fruit that turn almost black at maturity. It grows in moist to wet habitats.

<i>Boloria dia</i> Species of butterfly

Boloria dia, the Weaver's fritillary or violet fritillary, is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. The name Weaver's fritillary is in honor of Richard Weaver, an English insect collector who claimed to have obtained the specimen within ten miles of Birmingham around 1820. However, B. dia is very rare in England and the few specimens known from there are thought to be from possibly accidental introductions.

<i>Boloria eunomia</i> Species of butterfly

Boloria eunomia, the bog fritillary or ocellate bog fritillary is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae.

<i>Boloria titania</i> Species of butterfly

Boloria titania, the Titania's fritillary or purple bog fritillary, is a butterfly of the subfamily Heliconiinae of the family Nymphalidae.

<i>Boloria bellona</i> Species of butterfly

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<i>Nathalis iole</i> Species of butterfly

Nathalis iole, the dainty sulphur or dwarf yellow, is a North American butterfly in the family Pieridae.

<i>Euptoieta hegesia</i> Species of butterfly

Euptoieta hegesia, the Mexican fritillary, is a North and South American butterfly in the family Nymphalidae.

<i>Ancyloxypha numitor</i> Species of butterfly

Ancyloxypha numitor, the least skipper, is a North American butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. They have a weak, Satyrinae-like flight.

<i>Danaus eresimus</i> Species of butterfly

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<i>Eurema proterpia</i> Species of butterfly

Eurema proterpia, the tailed orange, is a North and South American butterfly in the family Pieridae.

<i>Chlosyne lacinia</i> Species of butterfly

Chlosyne lacinia, the bordered patch or sunflower patch, is a North and South American butterfly in the family Nymphalidae.

<i>Kricogonia lyside</i> Species of butterfly

Kricogonia lyside, the lyside sulphur or guayacan sulphur, is a North American, Caribbean, and South American butterfly in the family Pieridae.

<i>Chlorostrymon simaethis</i> Species of butterfly

Chlorostrymon simaethis, the silver-banded hairstreak, is a North and South American butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is also known as St. Christopher's hairstreak and the Key lime hairstreak.

<i>Speyeria callippe</i> Species of butterfly

Speyeria callippe, the callippe fritillary, is a North American species of butterflies in the brush-footed family Nymphalidae.

References

  1. ↑ "NatureServe Explorer 2.0 Euptoieta claudia Variegated Fritillary". explorer.natureserve.org. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Rich Cech and Guy Tudor (2005). The Butterflies of the East Coast. Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey. ISBN   0-691-09055-6
  3. 1 2 Bob Stewart, Priscilla Brodkin, and Hank Brodkin (2001). Butterflies of Arizona. West Coast Lady Press.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Jim P. Brock and Kenn Kaufman (2003). Butterflies of North America. Houghton Mifflin, New York, NY. ISBN   0-618-15312-8
  5. ↑ Ernest M. Shull (1987). The Butterflies of Indiana. Indiana Academy of Science. ISBN   0-253-31292-2
  6. ↑ Haddad, N. M., & Baum, K. A. (1999). An experimental test of corridor effects on butterfly densities. Ecological Applications, 9(2), 623-633.
  7. ↑ "Variegated Fritillary". www.naba.org. Retrieved 2020-08-05.
  8. 1 2 3 David C. Iftner, John A. Shuey, and John V. Calhoun (1992). Butterflies and Skippers of Ohio. College of Biological Sciences and The Ohio State University. ISBN   0-86727-107-8
  9. ↑ Judy Burris and Wayne Richards (2006). The Life Cycle of Butterflies. Storey Publishing, North Adams, MA. ISBN   1-58017-618-6
  10. ↑ "Plant Characteristics and Associations - Calflora". www.calflora.org. Retrieved 2016-03-30.
  11. 1 2 3 4 James A. Scott (1986). The Butterflies of North America. Stanford University Press, Stanford, California. ISBN   0-8047-2013-4
  12. ↑ David L. Wagner (2005). Caterpillars of Eastern North America. Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey. ISBN   0-691-12143-5
  13. ↑ Thomas J. Allen, Jim P. Brock, and Jeffrey Glassberg (2005). Caterpillars in the Field and Garden. Oxford University Press Inc., New York, NY. ISBN   0-19-514987-4
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