Variegated Fritillary

Variegated Fritillary Euptoieta Claudia  #4447 is another fritillary that is common in our area and comes to the Teaching garden.  This species is found in grasslands, farmland, brushy areas and roadsides.  In the summer it spreads northward.  We see it here from the spring to fall where it spends a lot of time at the flowers for nectar.  The host or larval plantfood is Passion Flower Vines, flax, violets and other plants.  The Variegated Fritillary is orange-brown with black markings.  When the wings are open the pattern is continuous from the forewing into the hindwing.  There is a black-rimmed pale spot in the forewing cell.  The underwing has shades of brown with patches of frosting in places.