Rewilding My Lot

I have seen plenty of Gulf Fritillary (Dione vanillae) butterfly activity around the Scarletfruit Passionflower (Passiflora lanuginosa), including some egg laying.

So it was not at all surprising to notice one day that there was caterpillar frass on leaves of this plant. (It was just over a year ago when I discovered that the name for insect feces is FRASS.)

There were, as expected, a variety of differently sized Gulf Fritillary caterpillars on the vine, most on the underside of leaves (presumably this provides shade and concealment). Here are some examples.

Not all caterpillars survive. Some are very likely completely eaten by birds or other creatures. Others die in place and look shriveled; I suspect that these may be the victims of wasps.