Gulf Fritillary Butterfly Dione vanillae. Insect. Photograph taken by the author. Copyright © 2025 Now I Wonder. All rights reserved.

Complete Guide To The Gulf Fritillary Butterfly

ByChristine Species Guides

Gulf Fritillary Butterfly

Gulf Fritillary Butterfly Images

How To Identify Gulf Fritillary Butterflies

  • Gulf Fritillary butterflies are large bright orange butterflies with wingspans up to 3.8 inches (9.7 cm) and orange and white bodies and eyes.
  • Above:
    • Bright orange wings
    • Three black-ringed white spots on forewing.
    • Black, chained markings along hind wing margin.
  • Below:
    • Pale brown-orange overall.
    • Many silver, tear drop patches.
  • Gulf Fritillary butterflies live mostly in eastern North Carolina, around the coastal plain.
    • Look for them in home gardens, roadsides, utility easements, old fields, and disturbed areas.

Gulf Fritillary Butterfly Classification

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Lepidoptera

Family

Nymphalidae (Brush-foot Butterflies)

Genus

Dione (formerly Agraulis)

Species

D. vanillae (formerly A. vanillae)

Binomial Name

Dione vanillae (formerly Agraulis vanillae)

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Christine
Christine is the creator and author of NowIWonder.com, a website dedicated to the animals and plants that share our world, and the science that helps us understand them. Inspired by lifelong exploration and learning, Christine loves to share her knowledge with others who want to connect with wild faces and wild spaces.
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