Gulf Fritillary (LEP116) Dione vanillae This
longwing is considered a fritillary because as with most butterflies it has
brilliant metallic silver spots beneath.
On the hindwing and the tip of the forewing, these spots are set in a
field of olive-gold. The rest of the
forewing changes to crimson-pink. It
is common across the South and all around the Gulf of Mexico. It prefers flowers of the beggar=s
tick and lantana, and the caterpillars feed on passion vine. |