Вид

In the variegated fritillary's range, the only similar species is the Mexican fritillary (Euptoieta hegesia). The Mexican fritillary is brighter orange, the upper side of its hindwing basal area is unmarked, and the underside of its wings is plainer, with no submarginal spots or median black lines.

This species may be seen flying from April to October in the south, while in the north, it flies from summer to early fall.

This butterfly is often found in open, disturbed habitats such as clover and alfalfa fields, pastures, fields, waste areas, roadsides, and mountain meadows.

Here is a list of some of the flowers that the variegated fritillary uses as nectar plants:

• Dogbane, Apocynum species
• Common milkweed, Asclepias syriaca
• Asters, Aster sp.
• Bearded beggarticks, Bidens aristosa
• Thistles, Cirsium sp.
• Coneflowers, Echinacea sp.
• Fleabane, Erigeron sp.
• Common boneset, Eupatorium perfoliatum
• Alfalfa, Medicago sativa
• Red clover, Trifolium pratense
• Ironweed, Vernonia sp.
• Sedum, Sedum

Males actively patrol for females. Females lay their pale-green or cream-colored eggs singly on host plant leaves and stems. The larva eats the leaves, flowers, and stems of the food plant. The larva is red with black subdorsal and spiracular stripes infused with white spotting. In many individuals, the white is more conspicuous than the black. The red middorsal stripe bears white (sometimes black) oval-shaped spots, one per segment. It has six rows of black spines and has a pair of long, clubbed spines on the head. The chrysalis is mainly shiny white, with small black spots, a variable amount of brown markings, and orange and gold tubercules. Adults overwinter in the south and fly north each spring and summer. It has 2–3 broods per year.

This is a list of host plants used by the variegated fritillary:

• Five-wing spiderling, Boerhaavia intermedia
• Arizona swallow-wort, Melastoma arizonicum
• Babyslippers, Hybanthus verticillatus
• Southern flax, Linum australe
• Stiffstem flax, Linum rigidum
• Grooved yellow flax, Linum sulcatum
• Canadian moonseed, Menispermum canadense
• Mexican moonseed, Menispermum mexicanum
• Blue passionflower, Passiflora caerulea
• Foetid passionflower, Passiflora foetida
• Purple passionflower, Passiflora incarnata
• Plantain, Plantago species
• Mayapple, Podophyllum peltatum
• Common purslane, Portulaca oleracea
• Yellow alder, Turnera ulmifolia
• Lance-leaf stonecrop, Sedum lanceolatum
• American field pansy, Viola bicolor
• Common blue violet, Viola sororia
• Heartsease, Viola tricolor subspecies

Материал основан на статье «Euptoieta claudia» из Википедии. Источник. Содержимое доступно по лицензии CC BY-SA 4.0.