Page 193 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

BUTTERFLY CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Nymphalidae
DISTRIBUTION
DISTRIBUTION North America, from southern Canada to central United States
TRIBUTION
DIS
HABIT
HABITAT T Mid–high elevation, lightly forested, hilly, and mountainous areas
A
HABITAT
HOS T PLANT S Violet (Viola spp.)
HOST PLANTS
HOST PLANTS

TE
NOTE
NOTE Spiny caterpillar that lives on the forest oor
NO
CONSERV A TION S T A TUS Not evaluated, but common
CONSERVATION STATUS
CONSERVATION STATUS
ADULT WINGSPAN
2¾–3 in (70–75 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
ARGYNNIS CYBELE 1¾–2 in (45–50 mm)
GREAT SPANGLED
FRITILLARY 191
(FABRICIUS, 1775)

Great Spangled Fritillary females lay their eggs singly in
late summer and early fall on the forest floor where violets
are present. The newly hatched caterpillars do not feed but
overwinter in dormancy under plant debris, fallen branches,
stones, and rocks. Feeding commences when violets begin to
grow in spring. The larvae are mostly nocturnal, rarely seen,

and feed chie y at night. Second and later instar caterpillars have
an eversible ventral “neck” gland that produces a musky odor
when disturbed. This likely provides protection from ground-
crawling natural enemies, such as ants and ground beetles.

Like other fritillaries, the caterpillars develop through six instars Actual size
over a period of about two months. Their pupae are more
wriggly than other fritillary species and are formed close to the
ground under a protective tent made of silked-together leaves.
Adults emerge in June, and the females are relatively inactive
for a month or so, preferring to shelter in cool areas before they
start to lay eggs.

The Great Spangled Fritillary caterpillar
is jet black with an orange head dorsally.
Its spines are pale to bright orange with
black tips or, in the two dorsal rows, all
black with bright orange bases. The true
legs are black, and the prolegs are brown.