A gulf fritillary butterfly found new growth of one of its host plants, maypop passionvine, to rest.
Just hanging out
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Category Archives: maypop passionvine
Chomping away
A walk through the garden was a treat this morning. There’s caterpillars on almost all the host plants, including these gulf fritillary caterpillars on a maypop passionvine.
Unique
The maypop passionvine flower is among one of the most unique flowers in my garden, and the most invasive.
This plant has taken over the garden, inside and outside, of the space. To say I have an abundance is an understatement. The gulf fritillary butterfly has a ton of host plant to lay eggs on, and the caterpillars food to eat.
Plenty
I have spent the last few days in the garden cutting back some plants, pulling weeds and getting the area ready for new additions. This gulf fritillary in particular has become a “friend,” if you will. Every time I am in the garden, no matter what time of day, it flies fairly near and lands on either the ground, or one of the stepping stones close by. I know it is the same one because of its hurt wing.
The gulf fritillaries are among my favorite, just for their unique wings. The population of these butterflies is going to explode in the garden soon as there are tons of eggs on both of its host plants, the corkystem passionvine and maypop passionvine, as well as caterpillars newly hatched to ones that are almost ready for its chrysalis. Of course, my daughter collected many caterpillars, along with the host plant and put them in the butterfly house.
Time for laying eggs
There have been many breaks in the outer bands of rains from Hurricane Idalia inviting the butterflies back into the garden. It makes me wonder where they find cover during the rain, as it must be somewhere close because there are quite a few taking advantage of the no rain, overcast skies right now.
This gulf fritillary took the opportunity to lay some eggs on our maypop passionvine. If you look closely, there are already eggs on the leaf. This beautiful lush plant will disappear rather quickly with the action this particular plant has received recently.
