Gulf Fritillary

[Perry Templeton]

Last year I enjoyed a spectacular show when the Gulf Fritillary butterflies visited my yard and then proceeded to make it their home. It was a delight to be surrounded by them. This year, I have the same Passion Flower that attracted them this year, and have seen a few scouts in the last week or so. But alas, the storm. I've googled for Gulf Fritillary and migration patterns, etc, schedules and can find nothing about the norm, much less if there is a storm. Any ideas or input? Seems like I remember them showing about this time las year. Oh, I'm southwest of New Orleans. Perry

[Hal]

I enjoy them every year too, but I can't tell you where they come from or migrate to. At present there are chrysalis hanging in many places around the yard, but they will soon be empty and none remain over winter. Some years I notice a few arrivals along in the early Summer as the weather warms, but the majority show up at my place in Middle Georgia in August.

I wouldn't worry about not having any this year, they will most likely be back next year. Doomsayers have been predicting the demise of the Monarch ever since I started reading newsgroups, but they come back every year.

I noticed a couple maypop's had jumped the pot, but decided to let them be and see if it would be necessary to control them. They seemed quite happy growing over the lantana and across the walkways, but once the large numbers of butterflies began showing up I was glad to have the extra larvae food. The larvae can eat so much of the plant it can't produce enough energy to come back next year.

I have some variegated fritillary laying on the maypop this year too. Their larvae have white stripes lengthwise.

I have kept a spicebush for about 5 years now and this was the first year to have Spicebush Swallowtail Larvae on it. They are cute little critters and I've really enjoyed finding them.

Regards,

Hal