Brownish Orange Worms on a Passion Plant

Gulf Fritillary Caterpillar, Eggs and Chrysalis

• The gulf fritillary caterpillar is a dark, orange-brown caterpillar with several black spines. The spines occur at regular intervals along its body. Eggs are yellow and elongated and can be laid on any part of the passion flower vine. Its chrysalis is mottled brown and resembles a dead leaf.

Gulf Fritillary Butterfly

• Adult gulf fritillary butterflies have a wingspan between 2 1/2 and 4 inches, with females being larger than males. Upper wing surfaces are bright orange with black spots. The forewing has three black rimmed white spots. Under surfaces of the wing are brown with stretched out silvery white spots. Females tend to be darker and have more markings.

Life Cycle and Habits

• Females lay eggs exclusively on passion flower vines and larvae will eat nothing else. Common host varieties are purple passion flower, corkystem passion flower and yellow passion flower according to Florida State University. Several generations are produced in a summer and defoliation is a possibility. Females lay eggs singly on leaves, near leaves or on stems or tendrils. In spring adults migrate north from overwintering sites in South America to feed on a wide variety of nectar plants and lay their eggs.

Growing Passion Flower

• You can grow passion flowers for the gulf fritillary butterfly either from seed or as young plants from your garden center. Vines started from seed most likely won't produce flowers for about three years. You could, however, still get caterpillars feeding on the foliage if other nectar plants are close by to attract adults. Some passion flower varieties bare edible fruit. If you are interested in harvesting the fruit you'll need a place for carpenter bees. They are the most common pollinators of passion flower. A wooden post in your garden can serve as a suitable nesting site for carpenter bees.