Diet

• Caterpillars feed on passionvines (Passiflora spp.), with documented hosts including Passiflora foetida and P. incarnata.

• Larvae consume leaves and other soft portions of the host plant and can occur in groups on vigorous vines.

• Adults feed on nectar from a wide variety of flowers, including lantana, cordias, composites, and other nectar-rich plants.

Range

• The Gulf Fritillary occurs broadly through the warmer parts of the Americas, from the southern United States through Mexico and Central America, the Caribbean, and into South America.

• It occurs in Guerrero and is a species that can be encountered around the Zihua area wherever passionvines and abundant flowering plants are present.

Habitat

• It favors sunny, open environments, including forest edges, fields, pastures, scrub, roadsides, gardens, parks, and secondary vegetation.

• In the Zihua region, it is particularly likely around sunny forest margins, disturbed areas, gardens, and other locations supporting Passiflora.

• The species is well adapted to human-modified landscapes and can be conspicuous around flowering plants.

Description

• A medium-to-large longwing with a wingspan of approximately 63–95 mm. Females are generally larger and darker than males.

• The upper surface is a vivid orange to orange-red, marked with black streaks and spots. Three prominent white spots enclosed in black occur near the leading edge of the forewing.

• The underside is brown, with numerous elongated, highly reflective silvery-white spots on both wings. These silver markings are particularly conspicuous when the butterfly is perched with its wings closed.

• The elongated forewings and brilliant orange coloration give it the characteristic appearance of a tropical longwing.