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The Gulf Fritillary Butterfly

Passiflora caerulea is a host plant for the Gulf Fritillary, Agraulis vanillae butterfly. The Gulf Fritillary butterfly is native to Texas and can be found fluttering about in the warm Summer sun feeding on floral nectar in your garden. The Passion flower vine is the specific host plant for the female butterfly, Gulf Fritillary, Agraulis vanillae .  It can be found at plant nurseries state wide.  The Passionflower has a beautiful bloom and it is quite astounding in its intricacies.  Many artists have delved into its spectacular characteristics.  This specific passionflower is a favorite of the Gulf Fritillary butterfly.  Healthy offspring, caterpillars (larva) can be reared on this specific vine. The fertilized female Gulf Fritillary butterfly will light upon the tips of new growth or its tendrils to  lay her eggs.  The eggs are cylindrical in shape and are colored a soft orange.  In just about five days the eggs will hatch and an ...
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The Butterflies are back!

Gulf Fritillary, Agraulis vanillae  nectaring on Eupatorium odoratum.   This butterfly gardening nectar source is a butterfly magnet in the month of October.   Many different species stop by to feed as they make their way south for the winter.  SURPRISE!!! It is a Dyras iulia,  Julia Longwing in Katy, Texas feeding on the mistflower mentioned above. A rare sight for this part of  Southeast Texas . We saw this species last year and this year feeding on the same plant as well as a Heliconius  charitonius, Zebra Longwing also seen last year and this year. And of course, lots of Monarchs and Queens visited in the month of November. Plant mistflower in the fall months.  Once it blooms profusely and the butterflies visit it on their journey the blooms will brown and set seed.  Once this happens, you should cut it back to about 10 to 12 inches above the crown of the root zone.  It will shoot back ...
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Florida Museum of Natural History Butterfly Rainforest

An Angel Wing Begonias pastel blooms glisten in the sunlight. The Rainforest is full of beautiful, well tended to tropical plants in full bloom. Be sure to bring your camera. The Owl butterfly is native to Central and South America.  This one is feeding on the sugars of rotted fruit.  This large butterfly has swift wing movement much like that of a bat. Heliconius hecale butterfly resting upon leaf.  This butterfly is a Heliconius longwing. The fertilized female lays her eggs  upon the tendrils and  newly sprouted leaf tips of the tropical Passionflower vines. They have soft, delicate flight patterns. Yellow blooms invite pollinators to visit.   The conservatory has many blooming plants. Butterflies are attracted to brightly colored flowers. Gorgeous pastel blooms surround you as you walk down the  beautiful pathways enjoying the butterflies in flight.  It is awesome to view Gods natural beauty eve...
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