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I’ve only spotted cabbage white and painted lady butterflies this year in Carmel until yesterday when I was surprised by a backyard visit from a gulf fritillary. As the name suggests this species likes the warm gulf lands, in fact, it is sometimes called “the Texas butterfly.” I’ve only seen it once before in Carmel which is some 2,000 miles from the Gulf of Mexico. And, wow, did this fritillary enjoy its stay. First sighting was around 9 a.m. and later at noon, both times it was flitting about on the same flowers.