State Butterfly
The state butterfly of Louisiana is the Gulf Fritillary. The scientific name is Agraulis vanillae. It was officially
designated in 2022 after earlier legislative attempts were delayed by state budget priorities. Also known as the "passion butterfly,"
it was chosen primarily because it is considered the only butterfly indigenous to Louisiana, meaning it completes its entire
life cycle within the state's borders. This medium-sized butterfly is easily recognized by its vibrant, burnt-orange wings accented
with black spots on the upper side and distinctive, shimmering silvery-white elongated spots on the brownish underside. Like the
Zebra Longwing, the Gulf Fritillary’s caterpillars feed exclusively on passionflower vines (locally known as "maypops"), which
allows them to store toxins that make both the larvae and adults distasteful to predators. Frequently seen in sunny gardens and
open fields from late summer through fall, these "longwing" butterflies are celebrated for their graceful, frenetic flight
and their vital role as native pollinators.
Other Butterflies
Other butterflies include,
- Monarch
- Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
- Cloudless Sulphur
- Common Buckeye