The Monarch is well known and celebrated. However, central California has several migrating species and one of them, the Gulf Fritillary, actually moved into California because of horticultural plantings of passion vine. I have seen all but one of these (Common Buckeye) in my own yard north of Salinas. Planting host and nectar plants in your yard will enable you to view these and other beautiful insects. Host plants are those that butterflies will lay eggs on for emerging caterpillar larvae to feed. Nectar plants are the plants that adult butterflies feed upon. Both are important in providing habitat for butterflies.

Gulf Fritillary - Its host plants are passion vine and passion flower. Nectar plants include...