The gulf fritillary loves visiting our garden during the morning hours. This morning I watched a female drink from five nectar plants, all different varieties, before laying eggs on two different host plants. The female has a larger wingspan of a male and is somewhat darker with more extensive markings.
An interesting fact, the gulf fritillary is part of the “brush-footed” butterfly family. A family that has short hairs on the front of its legs.
According to the Florida Wildflower Foundation the gulf fritillary will release chemicals of “an unpleasant odor” from its abdominal glands when it is disturbed. This helps in protecting itself from becoming a snack to birds and other predators. The host plant of the gulf fritillary contains toxins, which stays in the body through the butterfly stage and can become “lethal” to predators that do not have the same immunities.
The gulf fritillary laying eggs on a corky stem vine.Gulf fritillary laying eggs on a maypop passion vine. Gulf fritillary sipping from a blue porterweed. Gulf fritillary sipping from a blue porterweed. Gulf fritillary enjoying nectar from a purple lantana. Gulf fritillary sipping from a purple lantana. Gulf fritillary drinking from a yellow lantana. Gulf fritillary drinking from a purple salvia. Gulf fritillary landing quickly for a drink from the spiderwort.
This morning I spent an hour in the garden walking around and enjoying the view. I spotted five different species, polydamas swallowtail, monarch, gulf fritillary, dainty sulphur and a tropical checkered skipper. Too bad they all did not want their photograph taken this morning! They are all enjoying the warm weather and blue sky, a perfect day for laying eggs and sipping some nectar.
The gulf fritillary made multiple stops at our blue porterweed, definitely one of this species favorite.
gulf fritillary
One monarch was basking in the sun in the back garden near our tomatoes, while another touched down on a half a dozen milkweed plants laying eggs in the front garden. Good thing my milkweed are becoming bushy right now, as they will be covered in baby caterpillars soon.
The North America’s monarch is truly a special butterfly. I am so glad we live in Southwest Florida where we see the monarch fluttering in, around and out of our garden year round.
According to the U.S. Forest Service these butterfly use such environmental cues as air currents and thermals for their annual migration, as they cannot survive the cold winters. I cannot believe some travel as far as 3,000 miles for their winter destination, an average of 50 to 100 miles a day, which can take up to two months to complete their journey, the U.S. Forest Service stated. The monarch butterfly weighs less than a gram.
There are a few different destinations, according to the U.S. Forest Service, with those monarchs in Eastern North America traveling to the Sierra Madre Mountains of Mexico, and the Western North America (west of the Rocky Mountains) monarchs travel to California.
Their travel happens only during the day, as they roost at night in such areas as pine, fir and cedar trees, due to its thick canopies that provide the right warm temperature. They will also roost on peninsulas, finding the shortest distance across the water. The U.S. Forest Service said the monarchs gather along the shore waiting for a gentle breeze to help them along.
The US. Forest Service said as the days lengthen and become warmer while traveling north, those migratory butterflies will start breeding and laying eggs for a new generation. The monarchs that headed south are one generation, according to the U.S. Forest Service, but those that head north have successive generations.
Again, the U.S. Forest Service said that the first generation of monarchs are those offspring that spend their winter in Mexico. Each successive generation travel farther north with it taking three to four generations to reach Canada and the northern United States.
We are continuing to do our part in helping the monarch population thrive with No. 152 hatching today in our butterfly house, and a caterpillar finalizing its chrysalis.
This great southern white has been a tricky one to capture, as it does not stay very long feeding on the blue porterweed, the only nectar plant it seems to visit in the garden. I have been trying to capture this butterfly the last few days. I am hoping to get a closer photo, as our favorite part of this butterfly is the blue-tipped antennae, so eye-catching. I think it’s time to get a saltwort, their host plant, to see if we can attract more and keep the life cycle going.
This species can be found across southern Florida down into the Keys. The males have an irregular black border, which can be seen on the tip of the forewing, as well as the outer portion of its wing. The female has more black on its wings and have a dark spot in the center of the forewing. While the male is mostly white, the female coloring varies from white to dark gray, according to Thomas C. Emmel of “Florida’s Fabulous Butterflies.”
Honestly there is nothing better than looking out the windows of our home to see the burst of colors among our butterfly gardens. My front garden is nearing completion as the spots to plant more are running very low. The best part is I have finally found the right plants that can take direct sun almost all day. Here’s just a few of the many plants that grace the front garden.
Plumbago Dune sunflower. This flower grows extremely well in my garden. Dune sunflower Blue porterweed. There are so many blooms right now. white sage milkweed milkweed
