The Gulf Fritillary (Dione vanillae) is a bright orange butterfly. As a longwing butterfly, the Gulf Fritillary has long and narrow wings compared to those of other butterflies. They have extended forewings, and females are distinctively larger than males. The underside of the wings are brown with a speckling of silvery white dots, and the top of the wings are orange with black streaks. The species is most commonly found in the southern areas of the United States, and in many regions of Florida and Texas. They have a chemical defense mechanism in which they release an odorous chemical in response to predator sightings.
The Gulf Fritillary has a total wingspan in the range of 2.56”-3.74” (65-95 mm). The body of the Gulf Fritillary has an overall length between .79”-1.14” (20-29 mm), body width of .12”-.18” (3-4.5 mm), and body height of .14”-.2” (3.5-5 mm). The typical lifespan of the Gulf Fritillary is between 2-3 months.
The Gulf Fritillary (Dione vanillae) is a bright orange butterfly. As a longwing butterfly, the Gulf Fritillary has long and narrow wings compared to those of other butterflies. They have extended forewings, and females are distinctively larger than males. The underside of the wings are brown with a speckling of silvery white dots, and the top of the wings are orange with black streaks. The species is most commonly found in the southern areas of the United States, and in many regions of Florida and Texas. They have a chemical defense mechanism in which they release an odorous chemical in response to predator sightings.
The Gulf Fritillary has a total wingspan in the range of 2.56”-3.74” (65-95 mm). The body of the Gulf Fritillary has an overall length between .79”-1.14” (20-29 mm), body width of .12”-.18” (3-4.5 mm), and body height of .14”-.2” (3.5-5 mm). The typical lifespan of the Gulf Fritillary is between 2-3 months.