Gulf Fritillary host plants.

[Doug]

Mark,  For one thing, be sure that the Passiflora you get doesn't have any
hairs along the stem.  They stick the larva and lead to death early on.  That
may be what is happening.  I don't know the mechanism at work but it might be
that the punctures lead to infection.  I have never heard of Passiflora being
toxic except for the above.  I also have difficulty picturing a non-fruiting
passion flower.  Maybe it really isn't a true Passiflora, or maybe something
entirely different from the host plant is killing your fritillaries.  What
species are they?  Gulf?  Where are you?  What is the plant's species and
variety?

http://www.butterflyworld.com/ , should know the answer right out, if you can
provide them with the above background.  Several other list members have
commented previously that this organization is a bit of a high throughput
tourist trap, however, I recall hearing that they did make some contributions
on conservation of the Schaus Swallowtail a while back.  The owner speaks of
their running a worldwide Passiflora club.  No info on this is available on the
website, but there is an e-mail and phone number to the place.  Good luck.
Please share what you find out as it would be good to know.  Best.  Doug.

Mark Herdering wrote:

> Last year I planted a passion vine advertised as a "non-fruiting " variety
> in order to attract Fritillarys to the garden. Many visited but the larvae
> would die within days of hatching. I soon found out that certain species of
> Passion vine are toxic to Fritillary larvae.
>
> I've since planted a "fruiting" variety but it flowered and appeared
> exactly the same as the plant I had last year (which I've since removed).
> Not one butterfly has visited the plant this year. I called the nursery and
> they told me I could dig it up and return it, which I did.
>
> My question is which passaflora sub species(s) specifically is toxic to
> Fritillarys. I saw a beautiful plant today at the nursery with fire engine
> red flowers and it was labeled at passaflora vitofolia. Is this safe for
> Fritillarys?
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Mark

________________________
Douglas David Dawn
N.  25º 37.408'
W. 100º 22.003'
Altitude 910 meters
Sylvania Pinus-Quercus