Beautiful butterfly

When visiting the Peveto Woods Bird and Butterfly Sanctuary along the Creole Nature Trail, you may just be engulfed by thousands of beautiful butterflies! One magnificently colored butterfly that frequents the cheniers of western Louisiana is the Gulf Fritillary, also known as the passion-vine butterfly. This butterfly is described as a medium-size, orange butterfly with black markings, having somewhat elongated wings. Silvery, mercury-like patches on the lower hind wings distinguish the Gulf Fritillary from the monarch butterfly, which is extremely similar and equally common. The Gulf Fritillary of Mexico can be seen fluttering out over the waters of the Gulf. Gulf Fritillaries migrate north, from the southeast, but their stay in the north is only temporary, because neither the butterflies nor their host plants can withstand the weather of northern winters. Adult Gulf Fritillaries sip nectar from lantana, cordias, composites and use these unique cheniers found in the Peveto Woods Bird and Butterfly Sanctuary to rest along their migration route.