Variegated Fritillary!

I've been wondering where the variegated fritillaries were - well, there's one fluttering around some passionvines outside now - YAY! I assume she's a female, since she's fluttering around their main host plant, but she hasn't been doing anything but resting on a leaf and moving her wings up and down. I got a picture of her through the fence posts when she landed in the grass to bask - I went back in the house, because I didn't want to harass her and possibly cause her to leave.
Here's hoping she lays me some eggs!
Sherry

Great Sherry! I don't know much about them, but got to raise six earlier this year for the first time. I don't usually plant many annuals but chose to put some pansies in to large pots near my front door and was super excited when later they were eaten by VFs! I have just a few violets in the back gardens so this year. I will be sure to repeat my pansies in hopes to get some of the early ones back too.

That's a great picture of the chrysalis, Shelia - don't they make a pretty one?
Yes, in my area, they use Passiflora incarnata until the gulf frits arrive and take it over, then they use violets. They never lay a whole lot of eggs like gulf frits, but every year I get a few here and there.
I couldn't find any eggs, but that doesn't mean they aren't there. Hopefully, she'll come back!
Sherry

Hey Sherry,

Congrats on the VF. I was at the ranch today and saw several flitting around. No action on the native green violet though.

~ Cat