September 2, 2025

I am a Variegated Fritillary

In Florida, the species you see is the same

I can be found from Argentina to most of the US

Drinking nectar from peppermint to dogbane.

Location: Saguaro National Park, AZ

Sources: https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Euptoieta-claudia

Photo and text © 2025 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

September 28, 2024

These are life stages of a Variegated Fritillary 

Caterpillar, chrysalis, and adult

What began as an egg

Started to change

And here you can see the results

Location: Campbell Folk School, Brasstown, NC

Sources: https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/pansyworm

Photo and text © 2024 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

August 31, 2024

I am a Variegated Fritillary

You can find me in parklands and roadsides 

Maypop is one of my host plants

Low and erratic is the way that I fly.

Location: Private residence, Blountston, FL

Sources: https://ffl.ifas.ufl.edu/butterflies/Butterfly/Details/39

Photo and text © 2024 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

July 27, 2018

Location: Lakeland, Circle B Bar Reserve

We are Variegated Fritillary Butterflies,
Below to the left of us is a chrysalis.
While we are above, totally in love,
A butterfly is forming below, how felicitous!

(Special thanks again to Heather Stapleton for pointing out the chrysalis to me, I totally missed it when I first downloaded the picture.)

Sources: A Welcomed Vagabond - Variegated Fritillary

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

July 26, 2018

Location: Lakeland, Circle B Bar Reserve

We are Variegated Fritillary Butterflies
Getting down in public, totally nude!
Our egg will be laid on our favorite host plant,
And by December, we'll have four broods.

(Special thanks to Heather Stapleton for the ID.)

Sources: Butterflies and Moths of North America - Variegated Fritillary

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson