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Gulf Fritillary Butterfly Life Cycle Watercolor Print
 by artist Nan Wilson
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| Click to enlarge image(s) |
GULF FRITILLARY (Agraulis vanillae) This butterfly makes its home around the Gulf of Mexico and throughout the south. It is a “longwing” even though its called a “fritillary” due to its coloration. Its wings are not quite as long as the typical longwing and its coloration camouflages it in sunny habitats. With its wings closed it discloses a stunning pattern of silver spots underneath similar to some fritillaries. The Gulf’s host or food plant is the Passionflower. These plants contain poisons that longwing caterpillars are able to digest without harm, making them and the adult butterflies distasteful to predators such as birds and lizards. Passionflowers, such as Passiflora incarnata, have a striking violet colored bloom, are small and grow slowly. The female longwings lay their eggs on growing tips of vines, a few at a time.
About the artist, Nan Wilson:
In her life cycle paintings, Nan paints her backgrounds first –loosely, using her training in abstract art. Next follow her renditions of the host plant and other vegetation which provide further structure and color to the scene. She paints these with every bit as much care and accuracy as the butterfly—plants being as essential to the cycle as any other parts. And only then does she lay in the different stages of the butterfly—doing so in a way that brings out the individual story and particularities of the species. At shows and exhibits, her work is regularly viewed by top lepidopterists, botanists and other naturalists—many of whom have supported her in her work. For this and other reasons, she always stays true to the most detailed botanical and biological aspects of her subjects.
Those who buy one of her life cycle prints, can be sure they are unique.
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