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Photo#294178
Gulf Fritillary - Agraulis incarnata - female

Gulf Fritillary - Agraulis incarnata - Female
south Fulton County, Georgia, USA
June 25, 2009
This female was attempting to lay eggs (on maypops) but having no success .... there is an obstruction ... blockage... some kind of problem.... anyone ever see such before? I was able to hand catch her to see if I could be of any assistance.

Images of this individual: tag all
Gulf Fritillary - Agraulis incarnata - female Gulf Fritillary - Agraulis incarnata - female Gulf Fritillary - Agraulis incarnata Gulf Fritillary - Agraulis incarnata Gulf Fritillary - Agraulis incarnata - female Gulf Fritillary - Agraulis incarnata Gulf Fritillary - Agraulis incarnata - female

Maypops?
I was thinking that's the problem. She only likes passionvine. Then I Googgled maypos. Duh. another name for passionvine.

Yep
No question about it. One of my favorites. She will lay 200+ eggs and lucky if two survive. Some emerge deformed. she may have a genetic problem. By this time last summer, the cats had eaten all my passion vine. I have not seen a single butterfly this year :(

 
the obstruction
I will attempt to remove it ....possibly these are eggs that got stuck ....interesting, I didn't know cats ate such .... mine have not.... but I am told to eat the ripe fruit myself of the Maypop (passion flower vine) and I will try it

 
photo series
This is a series of photos of an individual female Gulf Fritillary, unable to oviposit due to the obstruction caused by several eggs that had 'clogged the works'... I was able to capture her and remove the blockage, with no harm done to her.... then release her and observe her immediately begin to lay and with success .... and no difficulty. It was a very interesting encounter.... and shows that however commonly we see a creature, there is sometimes a new experience or knowledge to be gained....

 
Interesting
I would try removing blockage as she would die anyway.

I see the Maypop Passiflora incarnatais is a different species from my passionvine P. caerulea. Now I know.

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