Posts Tagged: passion flower

A Passion for Passion Flowers

Honey bees are passionate about passion flowers (Passiflora). The intricate tropical flower is their private merry-go-round, their favorite hide 'n...

Honey bees foraging on a passion flower blossom. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Honey bees foraging on a passion flower blossom. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

So many bees, so little time. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

So many bees, so little time. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

From the top, the passion flower blossom looks like an intricate merry-go-round. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

From the top, the passion flower blossom looks like an intricate merry-go-round. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

That's One Beautiful Butterfly

First the lantana, and then the passion flower vine. The Gulf Fritillary butterflies (Agraulis vanillae) flutter daily around our backyard. They...

Gulf Fritillary butterfly on lantana. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Gulf Fritillary butterfly on lantana. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Another view of the Gulf Fritillary. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Another view of the Gulf Fritillary. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Side view (underside) of Gulf Fritillary about to lay an egg on a passion flower vine. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Side view (underside) of Gulf Fritillary about to lay an egg on a passion flower vine. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A Passion for Butterflies

In September 2012, I wrote about our Passion Flower vine (Passiflora caerulea 'Blue Crown'). I referenced the Agraulis vanillae (Gulf fritillary) butterfly, which has no native host in California and is entirely dependent on the genus Passiflora.  Last year we had 4 butterflies.  This year we already have 8, and more are on the way.  It is awesomely- exciting to discover multiple pupa/cocoons and caterpillars. Here are several photos as well as the fritillary mating on Borage (Borago officinalis).    

As I wrote in September, Art Shapiro (butterfly expert and professor of ecology and evolution at UC Davis), says the Gulf frit was first recorded in the Bay Area before 1908 and became "established" here in the 1950s.  http://butterfly.ucdavis.edu/node/448

Fritillary caterpillar. (photos by Susan Croissant)

Cocoon.

Fritillary butterfly on Passion Flower.

fritillary 2

The Wearing of the Orange

It was a perfect St. Patrick's Day--not just for the wearing of the green, but for the wearing of the orange. The Gulf Fritillary butterfly...

Gulf Fritillary butterfly touches down on the leaves of an Amaryllis, aka naked lady. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Gulf Fritillary butterfly touches down on the leaves of an Amaryllis, aka naked lady. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Gulf Fritillary checks out the leaves of a passion flower plant. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Gulf Fritillary checks out the leaves of a passion flower plant. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Egg of a Gulf Fritillary. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Egg of a Gulf Fritillary. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Close Call

Whew! That was close! When you see a butterfly with a gaping hole in its wingspan, you wonder what predator tried to grab it. A praying mantis? A...

Gulf Fritillary butterfly showing signs of a predatory miss. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Gulf Fritillary butterfly showing signs of a predatory miss. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Gulf Fritillary on the blossom of a passion flower vine. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Gulf Fritillary on the blossom of a passion flower vine. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

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