p.1 #1 · The Great Spangled Fritillary (GSF) caterpillars need lots of violets
Most of us now know that female Monarchs will only lay eggs on the leaves of the Milkweed species; the Monarch caterpillars will only eat Milkweed leaves, its Host Plant.
To many folks the violet as ground cover is a nuisance. I once felt that way too, but that changed when I encountered the GSF laying her eggs in the leaf litter. So I did some snooping on the net. Here is a Xerces link that explains the violet’s importance to the Fritillaris. https://xerces.org/blog/plants-for-pollinators-violets
To see the GSF butterfly, I now welcome lots of violets
I got lucky this morning with #2 image. Night temps are in the 50’s and soon the first frost will kill. Last night was rough on all of them. I was surprised this one even showed.
Robert
female Great Spangled Fritillary laying eggs in the leaf litter
This is the only GSF I had in my wildflower garden this year
blue violets... the leaves of which GSF caterpillars eat
p.1 #10 · The Great Spangled Fritillary (GSF) caterpillars need lots of violets
Lovely photos Robert. Thanks for sharing the information on food sources for fritillary butterflies. We have lots of violets in our yard. You have inspired me to look closer!!
Alan
p.1 #13 · The Great Spangled Fritillary (GSF) caterpillars need lots of violets
Alan Milnes wrote:
Lovely photos Robert. Thanks for sharing the information on food sources for fritillary butterflies. We have lots of violets in our yard. You have inspired me to look closer!!
Alan
And thanks to you Alan. I've always been fascinated with BC and the Pacific NW.
