Tag Archives: butterflies

The Gulf Fritillary Butterfly

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The colourful wings of the Monarch butterfly........wings have white spots on the outer margins, and have orange patches.

The colourful wings of the Gulf Fritillary........wings are a brilliant orange and the undersides have large silvery spots.

I was wandering along the road side by Harbour Club Villas and spotted this pretty Gulf Fritillary Butterfly also called a Passion butterfly. It wasn’t the least bit concerned that I was there and seemed almost to pose for the camera. I had never before noticed that butterflies have a coiled proboscis by which they sip liquid food. This tube-like proboscis is a long, flexible “tongue.” It uncoils to sip food, and coils up again into a spiral when not in use. Gulf Fritillaries’ favourite nectar is provided by the passion flowers and the vine’s leaves are the caterpillar’s preferred food.

Here's a close up shot of the Monarch Butterflies' coiled proboscis.

Here's a close up shot of the Gulf Fritillary's coiled proboscis.

The Monarch butterfly stayed still for quite a long time and I was able to get up very close without it flying away.

This magnificent butterfly stayed still for quite a long time and I was able to get up very close without it flying away.

The Gulf Fritillary is the most common large butterfly in the Turks and Caicos Islands

The Gulf Fritillary is the most common large butterfly in the Turks and Caicos Islands

The Turks and Caicos Islands have some 35 species of butterfly.

 

 

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Gulf Fritillary Butterfly

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Saw and photographed this colourful and lovely looking butterfly the other day

Saw and photographed this colourful and lovely looking butterfly the other day

This is a Gulf Fritillary and it is one of the most frequently seen butterflies in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Not only is it beautiful with its rich orange with black markings but on the underside, it is even more spectacular.

Intricate patterns on the underside of the butterfly's wings.

Intricate patterns on the underside of the butterfly's wings.

This butterfly is also known as the Passion butterfly as the caterpillars feed on the many passionflower vines found here in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The side view shows the patterned wing which has silvery spots.

Colourful head markings on a Gult Fritillary

Colourful head markings on a Gult Fritillary

Close up of the beautiful markings found on the underside of the Gulf Fritillary Butterfly

Close up of the beautiful markings found on the underside of the Gulf Fritillary Butterfly

We encourage you to keep your eyes open so that you can spot these butterflies as you travel about our islands. The Turks and Caicos has some 40 species of butterflies that have been recorded.  

 

Look out for those butterflies!!

 

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com