Now that it's the beginning of November, you can find quite a few Gulf fritillary caterpillars on the Maypop (Passiflora incarnata). Coincidentally or not, a couple of years ago in 2023, we photographed these critters on November 5th! How's that for consistency? This year, chilly, autumnal weather seems to be on the verge of freezing the Maypop vine, so hopefully the little caterpillars enjoy the green foliage while they can.
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| You can find the Gulf fritillary caterpillars on the prosperous Maypop vine, growing around the trunk of the deceased red cedar, near the Fitness Center. If you want to study the caterpillars, you will need to turn over some leaves―this one sits on top just for the photoshoot. |
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| The other caterpillars were hidden under the leaves. |
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| A couple of caterpillars were briefly relocated for a closer examination. |
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| Examining the whole vine reveals the different sizes of caterpillars. As they grow, they molt, shedding their skin and becoming larger. These developmental periods between moltings are called instars (that's Latin for image, likeness, or kind). |
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| The large caterpillar is more than an inch in length, while the tiny caterpillar is more than ¼ of an inch. That little fella is likely a newborn! |
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| How long does it take the Gulf fritillary caterpillars to mature? The answer is about a month, with two or three weeks growing in the caterpillar stage and another week or two developing in the chrysalis. |
Helpful Links
LSU AG Center 12-2022 Publication with info on Gulf Fritillaries
Short Article from Loyola University in New Orleans on the Gulf Fritillary
