can anyone tell me if the Gulf Fritillary overwinters?

[Pierre A Plauzoles]

In a previous article, partsmusic at ibm.net () says:

>Can anyone tell me if the Gulf Fritillary overwinters?  We've had one go
>into chrysalis and would like a 3rd grade class to experience it's
>emergence, but do they have to wait till spring?  Thanks.

It depends on what you mean.

I don't mean to be flippant or pick every nit in town (or be a 
Presidential copy-cat :-]), but the gulf fritillary is pretty interesting 
in that respect.  First of all, it is basically a tropical species that 
has a low frost tolerance.  On the other hand, it is found all the way 
north to the San Francisco Bay area on the west coast, but dies back at once 
if a frost gets to it.  All of this depends on the availability of its host 
plants, the passion vines.  Even then, there are a few it cannot use, 
but I don't know which ones those are.  The blue crown Passionvine, 
Passiflora caerulea, is one that it uses regularly around here in the Los 
Angeles area.  During a mild year here, it will remain active, flying and 
breeding, all winter long, although the numbers might be down a bit 
depending on the weather.

I hope this helps, and good luck with it and with your endeavors showing 
grade-schoolers more about biology.  It will be an asset later on.  At 
present, they may have no idea how much, but it will be an asset.
-- 
Pierre Plauzoles   ae779 at lafn.org
Canoga Park, California