Euptoieta Claudia

''Euptoieta claudia'', the variegated fritillary, is a North and South American butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. Even though the variegated fritillary has some very different characteristics from the ''Speyeria'' fritillaries, it is still closely related to them. Some of the differences are: variegated fritillaries have two or three broods per year vs. one per year in ''Speyeria''; they are nomadic vs. sedentary; and they use a wide range of host plants vs. just violets. And because of their use of passionflowers as a host plant, variegated fritillaries also have taxonomic links to the heliconians. Their flight is low and swift, but even when resting or nectaring, this species is extremely difficult to approach, and, because of this, its genus name was taken from the Greek word ''euptoietos'' meaning "easily scared".Rich Cech and Guy Tudor (2005). ''The Butterflies of the East Coast''. Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey.

Description

The upperside of the wings is checkered with orange and black. Both the forewing and hindwing have a row of submarginal black spots and black median lines running across the wings.Bob Stewart, Priscilla Brodkin, and Hank Brodkin (2001). ''Butterflies of Arizona''. West Coast Lady Press.Jim P. Brock and Kenn Kaufman (2003). ''Butterflies of North America''. Houghton Mifflin, New York, NY. The underside of the forewing is orange with a pale orange spot rimmed in black in the forewing cell. The underside of the hindwing is mottled with browns and grays with a pale postmedian band. There is no silvering. The wingspan measures 1.75–2.25 inches (44–57 mm).Ernest M. Shull (1987). ''The Butterflies of Indiana''. Indiana Academy of Science.

Similar species

In the variegated fritillary's range, the only similar species is the Mexican fritillary ('' Euptoieta hegesia''). The Mexican fritillary is brighter orange, the upper side of its hindwing basal area is unmarked, and the underside of its wings is plainer, with no submarginal spots or median black lines.

Flight period

This species may be seen flying from April to October in the south, while in the north it flies from summer to early fall.

Habitat

This butterfly is often found in open, disturbed habitats such as clover and alfalfa fields, pastures, fields, waste areas, roadsides, and mountain meadows.David C. Iftner, John A. Shuey, and John V. Calhoun (1992). ''Butterflies and Skippers of Ohio''. College of Biological Sciences and The Ohio State University.

Nectar plants

Here is a list of some of the flowers that the variegated fritillary uses as nectar plants:
*Dogbane, ''Apocynum'' species
*Common milkweed, ''Asclepias syriaca''
*Asters, ''Aster'' sp.
*Bearded beggarticks, '' Bidens aristosa''
*Thistles, ''Cirsium'' sp.
*Coneflowers, ''Echinacea'' sp.
*Fleabane, ''Erigeron'' sp.
*Common boneset, ''Eupatorium perfoliatum''
*Alfalfa, ''Medicago sativa''
*Red clover, ''Trifolium pratense''
*Ironweed, ''Vernonia'' sp.Judy Burris and Wayne Richards (2006). ''The Life Cycle of Butterflies''. Storey Publishing, North Adams, MA.
*Sedum, ''Sedum''

Life cycle

Image:VariegatedFritillaryMating1.JPG, Preparing to mate
Image:VariegatedFritillaryMating2.JPG, Beginning mating
Image:VariegatedFritillaryMating3.JPG, Mating



Males actively patrol for females. Females lay their pale-green or cream-colored eggs singly on host plant leaves and stems. The larva eats the leaves, flowers, and stems of the food plant.James A. Scott (1986). ''The Butterflies of North America''. Stanford University Press, Stanford, California. The larva is red with black subdorsal and spiracular stripes infused with white spotting. In many individuals, the white is more conspicuous than the black. The red middorsal stripe bears white (sometimes black) oval-shaped spots, one per segment.David L. Wagner (2005). ''Caterpillars of Eastern North America''. Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey. It has six rows of black spines and has a pair of long, clubbed spines on the head.Thomas J. Allen, Jim P. Brock, and Jeffrey Glassberg (2005). ''Caterpillars in the Field and Garden''. Oxford University Press Inc., New York, NY. The chrysalis is mainly shiny white, with small black spots, a variable amount of brown markings, and orange and gold tubercules. Adults overwinter in the south and fly north each spring and summer. It has 2–3 broods per year.

Host plants

This is a list of host plants used by the variegated fritillary:
*Five-wing spiderling, '' Boerhaavia intermedia''
*Arizona swallow-wort, '' Melastoma arizonicum''
*Babyslippers, ''Hybanthus verticillatus''
*Southern flax, '' Linum australe''
*Stiffstem flax, '' Linum rigidum''
*Grooved yellow flax, '' Linum sulcatum''
*Canadian moonseed, ''Menispermum canadense''
*Mexican moonseed, '' Menispermum mexicanum''
*Blue passionflower, ''Passiflora caerulea''
*Foetid passionflower, ''Passiflora foetida''
*Purple passionflower, ''Passiflora incarnata''
*Plantain, ''Plantago'' species
*Mayapple, ''Podophyllum peltatum''
*Common purslane, ''Portulaca oleracea''
*Yellow alder, ''Turnera ulmifolia''
*Lance-leaf stonecrop, ''Sedum lanceolatum''
*American field pansy, '' Viola bicolor''
*Common blue violet, ''Viola sororia''
*Heartsease, ''Viola tricolor'' subspecies

References

External links

Variegated Fritillary
Butterflies of Canada

{{DEFAULTSORT:Euptoieta Claudia
Argynnini
Butterflies of North America
Butterflies of Central America
Nymphalidae of South America
Lepidoptera of Chile
Butterflies described in 1775
Taxa named by Pieter Cramer