Tiniest Gulf Fritillary ever!

Since the GFs have stripped my only passiflora vine the remaining caterpillars ended up pupating. They were small chrysalides compared to the ones from the earlier in the season. This little one eclosed yesterday. It's the tiniest Gulf Fritillary I've seen. It's barely 1.25 inches from end to hind wing tip. Saw this little beauty nectaring from my duranta this morning. Compared to the other GFs flying around it this was looked sooooo tiny and cute :o)

Mind you...that didn't stop this little thing from chasing other butterflies away either!

~ Cat

to funny Cat. I think it is the time of the year. I read something about Butterflies being smaller in late summer

He's so cute!!

my last of the batch monarchs were smaller - they would go to chrysalis in 1 1/2 wks instead of two weeks, and they would emerge early, too. I assume to make the great flight to Mexico from MN. Always wondered if the smaller ones made it.

The smaller gulf frits were the last cats on the vine. My passiflora was completely stripped and they ran out of food...am thinking they decided it was best to pupate or starve. Even the chrysalides were small. Glad to say the littles ones all made it. Released three other small ones yesterday. It's so weird to see them flying around next to the bigger frits. You can really see the difference then!!! Several of them were males and it's hilarious to watch those little horn dogs try to entice a female twice or thrice their size!

~ Cat