The gulf fritillary caterpillar will spend up to 16 days eating its host plant (corkystem passionvine), molting, shedding its skin, as it grows larger and larger.

The caterpillars also take in toxins from the passionflower, which are stored and kept in their bodies through turning into a butterfly, according to the Alabama Wildlife Federation.

I am beginning to see a lot more gulf fritillary butterflies flutter about the gardens. I was excited to see a rather large caterpillar resting in the garden near its host plant.