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Taxonomic Hierarchy |
Photo |
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Kingdom: |
Animalia -- animal |
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Phylum: |
Arthropoda -- arthropods |
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Subphylum: |
Hexapoda -- hexapods |
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Class: |
hexapoda -- insects |
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Subclass: |
Pterygota -- iwinged insects |
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Infraclass: |
Neoptera -- modern, wing-folding insects |
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Order: |
Lepidoptera -- butterflies, moths |
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Superfamily: |
Papilionoidea -- butterflies |
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Family: |
Nymphalidae -- admirals, anglewings,
brush-footed butterflies |
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Subfamily: |
Heliconiinae |
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Genus: |
Agraulis |
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Species: |
Agraulis vanillae |
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United States Range Map |
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California Range Map |
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Identification: |
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Life history:
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Upperside bright orange with black markings; 3
black-encircled white dots on
forewing leading edge. Underside brown; forewing with
orange at base; both wings with elongated, iridescent silver
spots. |
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Males patrol for females, who lay eggs on many parts of the
host plant. Caterpillars feed on most parts of the host.
Adults overwinter in
the south. |
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Flight: |
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Wing Span: |
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Throughout the year in south Florida and South Texas,
January-November in the north. Number of broods has not been
determined. |
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2 1/2 - 3 3/4 inches (6.3 - 9.5 cm). |
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Caterpillar Hosts: |
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Adult Food: |
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Various species of passion-vine including maypops (Passiflora
incarnata) and running pop (P. foetida). |
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Nectar from lantana, shepherd\'s needle, cordias,
composites, and others.
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Habitat: |
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Season: |
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Pastures, open fields, second-growth subtropical forest and
edges, city gardens. |
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Remarks: |
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Conservation: |
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Not usually of concern.
NatureServe Global Status:
G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite
rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management needs: Cultivate host plants.
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Sources used to
Construct this Page: |
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NatureServe is a non-profit conservation
organization. Global ranks indicate the rarity of a species at a
global scale. Species may be fairly common globally but imperiled
locally. Global ranks have the following meaning:
- G1 - Critically Imperiled - At very high risk of extinction
due to extreme rarity (often 5 or fewer populations), very steep
declines, or other factors.
- G2 - Imperiled - At high risk of extinction due to very
restricted range, very few populations (often 20 or fewer),
steep declines, or other factors.
- G3 - Vulnerable - At moderate risk of extinction due to a
restricted range, relatively few populations (often 80 or
fewer), recent and widespread declines, or other factors.
- G4 - Apparently Secure - Uncommon but not rare; some cause
for long-term concern due to declines or other factors.
- G5 - Secure - Common; widespread and abundant.
- * ? or Q = status unknown or uncertain
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