Dione vanillae is most commonly found in the southern areas of the United States, specifically in many regions of Florida and Texas.

[6] In its adult form, the gulf fritillary is a medium-sized butterfly that has extended forewings and a wingspan range of 6.5 to 9.5 cm.

In addition to the size difference between the two sexes, females are usually darker in color and are more marked with black streaks as compared to the males.

[2][7] Gulf fritillaries are found primarily in the southern parts of the contiguous United States, from Florida and Georgia to Texas and California.

The average duration of the egg stage in the life cycle for gulf fritillaries is roughly between three and five days depending on the temperature of the environment.

[2][7] In form and appearance, the pupae of gulf fritillaries are not recognizably uniform, but rather can vary in both coloring and physical size.

The average duration of the pupal stage in gulf fritillaries is roughly between 7 and 12 days depending on the temperature of the environment.

[2][7] When the time comes for the caterpillar to create its chrysalis it turns a grayish color and begins to spin a silk-like substance into a ball on top or against a malleable surface.

By small contractions of the muscles it begins to shed its skin and head revealing a soft pinkish tan form.

After that period of time, a small crack begins to form at the tip of the chrysalis revealing the butterfly's head.

The average duration of the adult stage is roughly 14 to 27 days after the butterfly emerges from the chrysalis depending on the quality of the environment (i.e. factor in the availability of food, the presence of predators, competition between individuals).

When the butterflies sense danger in the area or are suddenly disturbed, these glands emit a distinct and obvious odor which is composed of several different types of chemicals, such as 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one and hexadecyl acetate.

The summation of these chemical compounds released from the glands leads to birds preferentially avoiding the gulf fritillaries in favor of other prey.

[9][11] The release of pheromones by the male gulf fritillaries plays a critical role in the mating and courtship process.

Studies have shown that the males possess specific structures on their dorsal wings that engage in the production and eventual release of chemical pheromones.

It is likely that pores that exist on the wings of the male butterflies transport the pheromones to the surface where the chemicals can be released and can then affect the females.