Insect · GBIF taxon 1894342
Variegated Fritillary
Euptoieta claudiaVariegated fritillaries display intricate orange, brown, and black checkered patterns on their upper wings, complemented by pale variegated shading on the underside. Highly nomadic and swift fliers, adults wander far north each summer beyond their permanent southern breeding range to colonize open fields and gardens. Females deposit solitary eggs on a remarkably wide variety of host plants, including passionvines, violets, flax, and stonecrop.
MigratoryPollinatorSun-Loving
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Flower nectar
- Passionvine leaves
- Violet leaves
Predators
- Songbirds
- Spiders
- Praying Mantises
ThreatsHabitat destruction and widespread pesticide use
HabitatsFields, pastures, roadsides, prairies, and sunny gardens
Life span2–4 weeks as adults
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderLepidoptera
- FamilyNymphalidae
- GenusEuptoieta
- SpeciesEuptoieta claudia
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Approach Gently: Move slowly and avoid sudden shadows as adults startle easily.
- Garden Planting: Grow passionflower vines or violets to attract egg-laying females.
- Spotting Basking: Search for them warming themselves with spread wings on bare soil.
Host Plant Sharing "Gulf Fritillary butterfly" by USFWS/Southeast is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/. · cc-by
Image unavailableEcological Neighbor 
Close Relative MONGO / Public domain · cc0
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