Posts Tagged: Passiflora
Gotta Love Those 'Cats
You gotta love those 'cats. Gulf Fritillary caterpillars (Agraulis vanillae) are always hungry....
Mirror image--Two Gulf Fritillary caterpillars crawl along a Passiflora stem, looking for food. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Always hungry, the Gulf Fritillary caterpillar is not one to turn down food. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Here we go! Wonder how much food is over there? (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
When you're out of leaves, no worries. Next, eat the flower buds. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
If Gulf Fritillary caterpillars keep eating and manage to evade predators and diseases, they'll turn into spectacular orangish-reddish butterflies with silver-spangled underwings. This one is landing on a Passiflora blossom. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Sex. Passion. And a Butterfly and Passiflora
Sex. Passion. Passionflower vine. And by--what else--the "passion butterflies," Gulf...
Gulf Fritillary butterflies (Agraulis vanillae) mating. In the background (at left) is a Gulf Frit caterpillar. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
When they're mating, Gulf Fritillaries look like two different spcies. It's an orangish-reddish butterfly with silver-spangled underwings. It is as spectacular as it is showy. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Mating Gulf Fritillary butterflies spreading their wings. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A Most Unusual Photo
It's an incredible photo. Nicole "Nikki" Nicola, a staff research associate in the Frank Zalom lab...
Male and female of the same species, Valley carpenter bee, Xylocopa varipunta, share a single passionflower blossom. The female is solid black and the male, a green-eyed blond. (Photo by Nicole Nicola)
A pollen-dusted female Valley carpenter bee exits the passionflower vine. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Male Valley carpenter bee, Xylocopa varipuncta, on a germander bush. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Because Nature Isn't Perfect
Nature isn't perfect, but neither are we! Today we watched a Gulf Fritillary (Agraulis vanillae)...
A depigmentized Gulf Fritillary laying eggs on a passionflower vine. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
This Gulf Fritillary isn't depigmentized. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
This Gulf Fritllary is nectaring on a Jupiter's Beard. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
It's a Predatory World Out There
It's a predatory world out there. Newly emerged Gulf Fritillaries (Agraulis vanillae) are...
Gulf Fritillary, Agraulis vanillae, laying an egg (see tiny yellow dot protruding from the abdomen.) (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Signs of a predator encounter: wings ripped and torn--probably by a bird. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
An adult Gulf Fritillary--wingspan still intact--basking in the sunshine. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)