The Life Cycle of the Gulf Fritillary Butterfly on
Passion Vine, a Maypop Cultivar (Passiflora incarnata) & Yellow Passion Vine (P. lutea) Click on each photo for a larger view.

First | Second Picture | Third Picture | Fourth Picture |Fifth Picture |Last | Back to Passion Vines

Gulf Fritillary Laying Egg

Gulf Fritillary female laying eggs on P. incarnata.

Note the golden egg in the center of the photo.
   

At first the caterpillar is small, but looks ferocious. The black spines are harmless.

The caterpillar eats the passion vine leaves and grows larger each day.
   
Gulf Fritillary Chrysalis

Soon the caterpillar pupates in the form of a chrysalis.

In a few weeks a beautiful butterfly emerges and starts the cycle all over again.


All photos except the chrysalis are copyrighted by Al & Yvonne Bordelon.