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LinkedInPosts Tagged: passionflower
The Butterfly Egg: The Promise of a New Generation
Ever seen a Gulf Fritillary laying an egg? The Gulf Frit, or "passion butterfly" (Agraulis vanillae), lays her tiny, yellow eggs, singly, on her host plant, the passionflower vine (Passiflora). The egg? It's about the size of a pin head. Look closely and you'll see it's ridged like the...
The adult Gulf Fritillary butterfly is a brilliant orange, with silver-spangled underwings. This one is nectaring on a Mexican petunia in a Vacaville garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A Gulf Fritillary laying an egg on a tendril of a passionflower vine in a Vacaville garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Sleepy-Time for a Valley Carpenter Bee
It's always a good idea to carry your cell phone or shoulder a camera while you're taking a stroll through a garden. You never know what you will see. It was early morning on Tuesday, June 7, when we spotted a female Valley carpenter bee, Xylocopa sonorina, asleep on a passionflower vine,...
A dorsal view of a female Valley carpenter bee, Xylocopa sonorina, asleep on a passionflower vine. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
The female Valley carpenter bee, Xylocopa sonorina, begins to stir on a passionflower vine. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Okay, about time to wake up! Shortly after this image was taken, the Valley carpenter bee took flight. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Insect Wedding Photography: No Invitation Needed
One point about insect wedding photography is that you don't need an invitation to attend. You just have to keep your distance and not disturb the bridal couple. No sudden movements. No stressful impatience. And no camera flash, please. It helps, though, if you grow the host plant so a...
Insect wedding photography: Two Gulf Fritillaries, Agraulis vanillae, in a Vacaville, Calif. pollinator garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A caterpillar inches along the altar of the Gulf Fritillaries. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A prospective suitor is rejected. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A Gulf Fritillary, Agraulis vanillae, nectaring on a Mexican sunflower, Tithonia rotundifola. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Caught in the Act of Laying an Egg on Tendrils
You know the drill, lay 'em on the tendrils. But Gulf Fritillary butterflies, Agraulis vanillae, don't always lay their eggs on the tendrils of their host plant, the passionflower vine (Passiflora) although textbooks may indicate that. We've seen Gulf Frits lay eggs on and under the...
A Gulf Fritillary, Agraulis vanillae, depositing an egg on the tendrils of her host plant, Passiflora. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A little maneuvering here, a little maneuvering there, and it's done--a Gulf Fritillary egg on the tendrils of a Passiflora. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
The Gulf Fritillary spreads her wings and is gone. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Gulf Frits in November?
Gulf Fritillaries in November? Yes! Gulf Fritillaries (Agraulis vanillae) are still active here in Solano County, on those warm, sunny afternoons that defy the season. They're still hanging around their host plant, Passiflora (passionflower vine), "looking for love"...
A Gulf Fritillary spreads its wings. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A hungry Gulf Fritillary caterpillar crawling around the Passiflora. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
U Turn? A Gulf Fritillary caterpillar in action. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
This Gulf Fritillary egg is about to hatch. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
