Papilionidae - Swallowtails
Generally large, brightly colored butterflies often with projections or "tails" on the rear edge of the hind wings. Larvae have prominent osmateria, or forked, protrusive scent organs, which are extruded from the head when the animal is disturbed. About thirty species in North America.
Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes)
This is a black to blue-black butterfly with two rows, one marginal, of yellow spots on the upper surface of the wings. In the male, the spots of the inner row are distinctly larger than those of the female. The hind wings of the female feature a more prominent area of bluish color between the two rows of yellow spots. Both sexes show an orange spot towards the rear end of the inner edge of the hind wing. Young larvae are brownish black with a white dorsal marking. Older larvae are green with black bands containing yellow spots. The osmaterium (horn-like scent glands extruded from the head when the caterpillar is disturbed) is yellow. The larvae feed on the foliage of plants in the celery family (Apiaceae) including cultivated forms such as carrots, parsley, parships, and fennel. Chrysalis overwinters. Most summers they can be found feeding on fennel in the herb garden at Rice Creek.
Canadian Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio canadensis)
The wings of the Tiger Swallowtails are characterized by having a yellow background color with bands of black. There are distinct marginal spots on the underside of the fore wings. There is a long black tail on the hindwing. The young caterpillar is brown and white, resembling a bird dropping. The mature caterpillar is large (2"), green, and swollen towards the front end. There is a pair of black, blue, and yellow eyespots on the third segment back from the head. A yellow bar may be visible on the trailing edge of the next segment behind the eyespots. Tiger Swallowtails are common in the summer at Rice Creek. Caterpillars eat the leaves of a variety of trees and rest on silken mats in shelters of curled leaves. Chrysalids hibernate. It is difficult to distinguish between the two species of Tiger Swallowtail visually. This more northern form is smaller and lighter yellow than the next. It produces only one generation per season. The ranges of the Canadian and American Tiger Swallowtails overlap in our area.
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus)
The wings of the Tiger Swallowtails are characterized by having a yellow background color with bands of black. There are distinct marginal spots on the underside of the fore wings. Further south, nearly half of the females are dark brown rather than yellow. There is a long black tail on the hindwing. The young caterpillar is brown and white, resembling a bird dropping. The mature caterpillar is large (2"), green, and swollen towards the front end. There is a pair of black, blue, and yellow eyespots on the third segment back from the head. A yellow bar may be visible on the trailing edge of the next segment behind the eyespots. Tiger Swallowtails are common in the summer at Rice Creek. Caterpillars eat the leaves of a variety of trees and rest on silken mats in shelters of curled leaves. Chrysalids hibernate. It is difficult to distinguish between the two species of Tiger Swallowtail visually. This more southern form is larger and darker yellow than the previous. It produces two to three generations per season. The ranges of the Canadian and American Tiger Swallowtails overlap in our area
Giant Swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes)
This is perhaps our largest butterfly. One row of yellow spots arches around more or less parallel to the line of the outer margin of the black wings. Another band of yellow, spots on the fore wing and a more continuous band on the hind wing, runs from the apex of the fore wing to the inner margin of the hind wing almost perpendicular to the axis of the body. This pattern is distinctly visible in the flying insect, even when viewed from some distance. The tails of the hindwing have a yellow center. The caterpillar is brownish with patches of white at the head, across the middle, and at the rear end. The osmaterium (horn-like scent glands extruded from the head when the caterpillar is disturbed) is bright red. Larvae of the Giant Swallowtail feed on foliage of plants in the family Rutaceae, which includes the citrus fruits, prickly ash (Zanthoxylum americanum), hop tree (Ptelea trifoliata), and common rue (Ruta graveolens). The Giant Swallowtail is common further south but is seen only sporacically in our area. At Rice Creek, it appeared in the summer of 2008 and laid eggs on plants of rue (Ruta graveolens) in the herb garden. Unfortunately, the larvae had not matured at the end of the season.
Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus)
In this swallowtail, the upper surface of the wings is black-brown with a marginal row of yellow or white spots and an area of blue-green shading on the hind wings. Hindwing has an orange spot on the leading edge and another on the trailing edge. On the lower surface, orange spots surround the area of blue-green shading. The young caterpillars are green to brown with white markings and resemble bird droppings. Mature caterpillars are green with large yellow and black eyespots on the third segment behind the head and smaller yellow eyespots on the next segment back. Small dark spots appear in rows along the remaining segments. Caterpillars turn yellow or orange before pupating. Chrysalis over winters. The larvae live on the leaves of spicebuch (Lindera benzoin) or sassafras (Sassafras albidum), the first found at scattered sites in the woodlands at Rice Creek. The older, green phase of the caterpillar makes a shelter by pulling the edges of a leaf up and over its body. It rests in the shelter by day.
Pieridae - Whites and Sulphurs
These are medium sized white butterflies often with dark brown markings on the upper and lower sides of the wings. The slender, green larvae feed on plants of the mustard family (Brassicaceae) which includes the cabbage and its many cultivated relatives.
Cabbage White (Pieris rapae = Artogeia rapae)
This common butterfly was accidentally introduced into Quebec from Europe sometime around 1860. It has spread across North America and is a common and serious pest of cultivated cabbage, broccoli, etc. The upperside of the wings is white with gray-black tips on the forewings. Males have one, and females two, dark spots towards the center of the forewing. There is a small black spot on the leading edge of the hindwing. The underside of the hindwing and the forewing apex are evenly yellow-green or gray-green. The caterpillar is green with a faint yellow strip along the back and a yellow strip or row of spots along either side. The body is densely covered by short hairs and minute black spots. The caterpillars feed on a wide variety of plants in the mustard family (Brassicaceae).
West Virginia White (Pieris virginiensis = Artogeia virginiensis)
This species, once considered a variety of the European P. napi, is smaller than the Cabbage White. The wings are translucent and whitish. They lack dark spots but may show a faint, broad dark margin. The underside of the hindwings has blurry brown or pale gray scaling along veins. It is a native species. The caterpillar is green and covered with dense short hairs and minute black spots. A yellow line may show along the back and on either side. The larvae feed on species of toothwort (Cardamine concatenata [=Dentaria laciniata] and C. diphylla [= D. diphylla]). The West Virginia White will also lay eggs on the introduced garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) but the larvae do not survive on this plant. In many area, garlic mustard has become more abundant than the native toothworts therebye threatening the survival of populations of this butterfly.
These are small to medium sized orange or yellow butterflies usually showing a black wing border.
Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice)
A common, medium sized, yellow (or occassionally white) butterfly with a dark spot on the fore wing and a silvery spot surrounded by a red ring on the hind wing. Faint submarginal black spots appear on the under surface of the wings. The outer portion of the wing is uniformly dark in males, in females it contains some yellow spots. The catepillar is green with a white strip on either side which may contain lines or bars of pink or orange and have a dark green or black lower edge. The larvae feed on clovers (Trifolium spp.), vetches (Viccia spp.), alfalfa (Medicago sativa), and related species. The Clouded Sulphur is closely related to the Orange Sulphur but lacks the orange cast to the upper surface of the wings. White females of the two species are sometimes impossible to tell apart.
Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme)
The upper wing surface is orange, the lower surface yellow. There is a dark spot on the fore wing and a lighter spot on the hind wing. The border of the fore wing is dark on the upper surface. In the female, this dark border contains lighter spots. The catepillar is green with a white strip on either side which may contain lines or bars of pink or orange and have a dark green or black lower edge. The larvae feed on clovers (Trifolium spp.), alfalfa (Medicago sativa), and related members of the bean family (Fabaceae). The Orange Sulphur is closely related to the Clouded Sulphur but is distinguished by having a distinctly orange cast to the upper surface of the wings. White females of the two species are sometimes impossible to tell apart.
Dainty Sulphur (Nathalis iole)
A small, yellow butterfly with dark forewing tips and broad, dark borders on the trailing edge of the forewing and the leading edge of the hindwing. In the female, the trailing edge of the hind wing also has dark markings. There is an yellow-orange area near the leading edge of the forewing below. There is black along the trailing edge and in submarginal spots. The yellow of the lower surface may be obscured by olive-colored scales. The catepillar is green with a purple back stripe and black and yellow side stripes. This is a southern species which appeared at Rice Creek in 2007. It cannot survive cold winters. The larvae feed on a variety of herbaceous plants including the Garden Marigold (Tagetes spp.) and the Common Chickweed (Stellaria media).
Lycaenidae - Gossamer-wing Butterflies
A group of small butterflies including the Harvester, coppers, hairstreaks, and blues. In most species, the forelegs of the males are reduced and not used for walking. Females have the normal three pairs of walking legs.
Distinguished from all our other butterflies by having carnivorous larvae which feed on wooly aphids and are often hidden within the white, fluffy mass of aphids on a branch.
Harvester (Feniseca tarquinius)
Small, orange-yellow butterflies with black margins and splotches on the upper side and with mottled brown markings and faint gray-white circles on the under side. The adults feed on the honeydew extruded by aphids. Caterpillars are greenish-brown with a thin, black stripe along the back surrounded by a waxy-white area. Moderately long hairs accumulate waxy secretions and debris from the aphids they prey on. Prey includes wooly aphids on alder (Alnus incana) as well as ash (Fraxinus spp.), beech (Fagus spp.), greenbriar (Smilax spp.), hawthorn (Crataegus spp.), maple (Acer spp.), and witch hazel (Hamamelis spp.).
Many species with coppery orange background coloring. These are stout bodied, small to medium sized butterflies. Most species have a single brood and overwinter as eggs or as first instar caterpillars within the egg.
Bronze Copper (Lycaena hyllus = Hyllolycaena hyllus )
A locally common butterfly somewhat larger than the related American Copper. The fore wings are iridescent copper-brown (male) to light yellow-orange (female) with black spots and a dark border. The underside of the forewing of both sexes is orange with black spots and often a gray margin. The hind wings are dull and black spotted, with an orange band near the trailing edge and a lighter ground color on the under surface. This species perfers open, wet meadows and marshes. Caterpillar is yellowish-green with a darker line down the back and white speckled surface with short hairs. The larvae feed on foliage of docks (Rumex spp.) and knotweeds (Persicaria spp.)
American Copper (Lycaena phlaeas)
A common, small, brightly colored butterfly with fore wings coppery orange-red with black spots and a dull margin. The hind wings are dull with a distinct orange band and numerous black spots. The underside of the hindwing is grey with a submarginal row of orange-red markings. Caterpillar is yellowish-green with a darker line down the back and white speckled surface with short hairs. The larvae feed on foliage of the docks and sorrels (Rumex spp.)
These are small to medium sized butterflies, many with a fine, hairlike "tail" on the hindwings. Hairstreaks can be very difficult to identify with certainty. They typically overwinter in the egg or pupal stage.
Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus)
Upperside is blue-gray with large red spot near the single tail. Underside of the spring/fall form is dark gray, summer form is paler gray. Relatively straight postmedian line is white, bordered with black and orange on the inside edge. Blue and orange patches occur above the tail. Caterpillars are usually green although pink, red, and brown forms occur. There is a darker, oblique line edged above with white or cream on each side of each segment. Larvae feed on fruits and flowers of a wide variety of mostly herbaceous plants.
Banded Hairstreak (Satyrium calanus)
The hindwing has 1 long and 1 short tail. Both sexes are dark brown. Underside dark brown with a continuous band of dark dashes edged in white on the outer edge. A blue patch edged with orange occurs near the tails. Caterpillars are variable ranging from green to gray, reddish, or brown. A pair of stripes usually occurs along the back towards the front end and also toward the rear end of the caterpillar. Sometimes those towards the front continue back over the abdomen. Isome individuals the space between the stripes is darkened. Angled lines sometimes run down the sides of the segments to a longitudinal stripe along the sides. Larvae feed on foliage of oaks, walnut, and hickory.
Hickory Hairstreak (Satyrium caryaevorus)
The hindwing has 1 tail. The underside is light brown with a broad, offset band with white edges. Hindwings have a blue tail-spot and black-capped orange eyespot. Caterpillars are yellow-green with a dark band along the back and dark stripes along the sides. Larva feed on foliage of hickory, ash, and oak.
Striped Hairstreak (Satyrium liparops)
The hindwing has 1 long and 1 short tail. Upperside dark brown and in the male has a long, oval spot along the front edge of the forewing. The underside of both wings has rows of widely separated white stripes. The blue spot near the tails is topped with orange which may continue in a submarginal band along the wing. Outer margin of hindwing is indented above the short tail. Caterpillars are bright green with faint oblique lines running down the sides. There is sometimes a pair of weak stripes with a darker area between towards the rear end. There is a weak yellowish strip along the lower part of each side. Larvae feed on the foliage of a variety of woody plants, particularly plants in the rose family (Rosaceae).
Coral Hairstreak (Satyrium titus = Harkenclenus titus )
The only common hairstreak without tails on the hingwings. The upperside is dark brown without spots (male) or light brown with red spots (female) along the hindwing margin. Underside is light brown sometimes with row of black spots ringed with white and, on the hindwing, row of coral spots at margin. Catepillar is green with reddish-orange markings at the head and tail and a dark stripe along the back. Larvae feed on foliage of wild cherries and plums (Prunus spp.)
Relatively small, blue (at least the males) butterflies.
Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon ladon = Lycaenopsis argiolus )
The early spring form, one of the earliest butterflies of the season. Upperside violet-blue, females with black at outer edge of forewing. Underside gray-white with thin black border and small black dots fading towards the edge. Caterpillars usually green but sometimes brown, pink, or whitish, often with a darkened area on the back. Distinguished on close observation by minute, white, star-shaped hairs. Larvae feed on flowers of a variety of woody and some herbaceous plants.
Summer Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon neglecta= Lycaenopsis pseudoargiolus)
The late spring-summer form, similar to the Spring Azure (above) but occurring later in the season and with some white in the upper surface of the wings and the lower surface essentially white. Caterpillars, as in spring form, usually green but sometimes brown, pink, or whitish, often with a darkened area on the back. Distinguished on close observation by minute, white, star-shaped bristles. Larvae feed on flowers of a variety of woody and some herbaceous plants.
Eastern Tailed-Blue (Everes comyntas = Cupido comyntas)
A small butterfly with one narrow tail on the hindwing. Upperside of male iridescent blue with orange and black hindwing spots near tail. Summer females uniformly brown, spring females smaller with much blue at the wing bases. Underside is pale gray with distinct black spots. Hindwing with three large orange spots at outer margin near tail. Caterpillars are variable, from green to yellow-, pink-, rose-, green-, or purple-brown. They are hairy, and skin is peppered with small, white (or black) star-shaped bristles. Larvae feed on plants of the bean family (Fabaceae) including sweetclovers (Melilotus spp.), vetch (Viccia spp.), clovers (Trifolium spp.) and others.
Nymphalidae - Brush-footed Butterflies
A large and diverse family containing a number of subfamilies some of which are sometimes recognized as separate families. The males of all species and the females of all except the snouts have reduced the forelegs that are not used in walking.
A small group of butterflies sometmes considered a separate family (Libytheidae). They are characterized by the extreme length of the labial palps which extend forward like a long beak. The first pair of legs of the males are reduced in size and are not used for walking. Females have three pairs of normal, functional legs.
American Snout (Libytheana carinenta)
Labial palps long and extended forward like a beak below the antennae. The upperside of the wings is brown, the forewing with orange at base and inner margin and white spots on outer half. Underside of the hindwing is mottled or smooth violet-gray. Larvae feed on foliage of hackberries (Celtis spp.). Range extends from Soputh America to the southern United States. It is a rare visitor to the northeast.
Heliconiinae - Heliconias and Fritillaries
A tropical group with several genera prominent in the Northern Hermisphere. Includes the fritillaries or silverspots and the lesser fritillaries. The adults of several species are distasteful, and many other species mimic the distasteful ones. Adults are long-lived, with some as long as six months.
Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia)
A tawny orange butterfly with thick dark veins and markings and black spots near the wing margin. The hindwing margin is angled and slightly scalloped. Underside of hindwing with a mottled pattern and no silver spots. Larvae feed on a variety of plants in several families including May Apple (Podophyllum peltata), Violets (Viola), Purslane (Portulaca), and Stonecrop (Sedum). A southern species only infrequently seen in our area.
Aphrodite Fritillary (Speyeria aphrodite)
A northern species. The upperside is reddish orange-brown. Forewing of the male with no black scales on veins. Underside of hindwing has a reddish brown ground color and a pale, narrow submarginal band or none at all. Larvae feed on various violets.
Atlantis Fritillary (Speyeria atlantis)
A northern species. The upperside is orange-brown, darker at the base, with black outer margins. The male has black scales on veins. Underside of hindwing with chocolate brown or purplish basal disk. The hindwing spots are always silvered. Larvae feed on various violets.
Great Spangled Fritillary (Speyeria cybele)
A large butterfly. Upperside of the male is tan to orange with black scales on the forewing veins. The female is tawny and darker than male. Underside of hindwing with wide pale submarginal band and large silver spots. Larvae feed on various violets.
Nymphalinae - True Brush-foots
Adults of North American species are predominantly orange, brown, and black. Most checkerspots and crescentspots patrol for mates, while the other groups exhibit either perching or perching and patrolling. Most species limit their host plants to a few species, but the Painted Lady has one of the widest host palettes of all butterflies. Eggs are laid singly or clustered in groups, and caterpillars feed alone or communally. Brushfoots overwinter as young caterpillars or hibernating adults.
Baltimore Checkerspot (Euphydryas phaeton)
Upperside is black with red-orange spots near base of wings and red-orange crescents on outer margins. Rows of creamy white spots inward. Caterpillar black with orange bands and numerous black, thick stalked branched spines. Young larvae feed communally on Turtlehead (Chelone glabra) or occasionally on Beardtongue (Penstemon), and English plantain (Plantago lanceolata). After overwintering, caterpillars may continue to use these plants, but may also wander and feed on unrelated plants including Arrowwood (Viburnum recognitum), Common Lousewort (Pedicularis canadensis), Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), and White Ash (Fraxinus americana).
Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia)
Upperside is brown. The forewing with 2 orange bars and 2 eyespots. Part of a white subapical band appears in the largest, lower eyespot. Hindwing has 2 eyespots. The upper one is largest and contains a magenta crescent. The underside of the hindwing is brown or tan in the wet season (summer) form and rose-red in the dry season (fall) form. Caterpillar usually mostly black with white and/or orange along the sides. There is a pale stripe along the back. There are spiines along the back and sides, the latter arising from orange bases. Larvae feed on plants from the snapdragon family including Snapdragon (Antirrhinum) and Toadflax (Linaria) and the plantain family including plantains (Plantago). The Buckeye is resident in the southern United States and north along the coasts to central California and North Carolina. Adults from the south's first brood migrate north in late spring and summer to temporarily colonize most of the United States and parts of southern Canada.
Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa)
Wing borders are irregular with short projections. Upperside is brownish to black with a wide, cream yellow border on outer margins and a row of iridescent blue spots at the inner edge of the border. Caterpillar black with small white spots and eight red blotches along the back. Body with long, stout, black spines with short side branches. Larvae feed on willows including Black Willow (Salix nigra), Weeping Willow (S. babylonica), and Silky Willow (S. sericea); also American Elm (Ulmus americana), Eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides), Aspen (P. tremuloides), Paper Birch (Betula papyrifera), and Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis). Older caterpillars wander about and may be found on plants that they do not eat. Adults overwinter and are often the first butterflies seen in early spring.
Milbert's Tortoishell (Nymphalis milberti = Aglais milberti)
Irregular wing outline. Upperside is dark brown with a wide orange submarginal band which grades to yellow at the inner edge. There is a narrow black marginal border on both wings; the hindwing border may contain some blue spots. Young caterpillars feed together in a web, while older ones feed alone and make shelters of folded leaves tied with silk. Mature caterpillar spiny, black with creamy lateral stripes, often appearing speckled with tiny white spots. Adults hibernate, sometimes in small groups. Larvae feed on nettles.
Compton Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis vaualbum = Roddia vaualbum)
Upperside is orange-brown with darker wing bases and black spots. There is a single white spot on leading edge of each wing. Underside is mottled gray and brown, with dark bases and borders. Pale blue-gray crescents may line the outer margin. A small white V or comma mark shows on the underside of the hindwing. The caterpillar is pale green and chartreuse-speckled with branched black spines. Adults overwinter. Larvae feed on willows, poplars, birches, and elms.
Northern Crescent (Phyciodes selenis = Phyciodes cocyta)
Antennal clubs of male are orange. Females are darker than males. Upperside is orange-brown with dark borders. Median orange-brown areas are mostly open, with few dark markings. Underside of hindwing is orange with a tan patch surrounding the pale marginal crescent. Cresent caterpillars are small and dark brown with white speckles and bristly warts. The head is shiny black with a white line over each lobe. Young caterpillars live and feed communally. Third-stage caterpillars hibernate. They feed on Asters.
Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
Males usually have black antennal knobs. Upperside is orange with black borders. Postmedian and submarginal areas are crossed by fine black marks. The underside of hindwing has a dark marginal patch containing a light-colored crescent. Caterpillars eat leaves and are gregarious when young. Hibernation is by third-stage caterpillars. Cresent caterpillars are small and dark brown with white speckles and bristly warts. The head is shiny black with a white line over each lobe. Young caterpillars live and feed communally. Third-stage caterpillars hibernate. They feed on Asters.
Eastern Comma (Polygonia comma)
Wing margins are irregular. Forewing above is brownish-orange with dark spots, with one dark spot at the center of the bottom edge. Hindwing has a dark border containing pale spots. In the summer form the hingwing is shaded blackish-brown, in the spring and fall form it is orange with black spots. The hindwings have a short tail. The underside of the wings is mottled tan and brown The hindwing with a central silver or white comma which is swollen at both ends. Caterpillars are similar to those of the Gray Comma. They vary in color from pale green, yellow, or white to black. There abdomen sometimes sports brick-red spots. The head has numerous black and white spines and the body has thick light colored, branched spines with black tips. The caterpillars are usually solitary and feed on leaves at night. They feed on members of the elm and nettle families. Older caterpillars make daytime shelters by pulling leaf edges together with silk. Fall form adults hibernate, some first migrating to the south.
Question Mark (Polygonia interrogationis)
Wing margins are irregular, the hindwing distinctly tailed. The upperside is red-orange with black spots. Upperside hindwing of summer form is black, that of winter form has much orange and a longer, violet-tipped tail. Underside is light brown. The hindwing has pearly white comma mark with an adjacent dot. The caterpillars range from yellow to red and orange to nearly black. Dark branched spines occur on the tip of the head, and thick, branched spines with dark tips adorn the abdomen. The surface is covered with white spots and has longitudinal cream to rusty lines. Eggs are laid singly or stacked under leaves of plants that are usually not the hosts. Caterpillars must find a host plant; they then eat leaves and live alone. Host plants include elms, nettles, and hops. Adults of the winter form hibernate; some staying in the north, many migrating to the south.
Wing margins are irregular. The upperside is bright orange-brown. Hindwing of the summer form has a wide dark border, spring and fall form has the border covering only about 1/4 of the wing. In both the border encloses a few small yellow spots. Underside is charcoal gray with fine dark striations; forewing with 3-4 light chevrons in a dark border. The silver mark in center of hindwing is small, slender, and L-shaped. Summer adults fly from June-August, laying eggs of the fall generation which appears in October and then hibernates. Caterpillars are similar to those of the Eastern Comma. They vary in color from pale green, yellow, or white to black. There abdomen sometimes sports brick-red spots. The head has numerous black and white spines and the body has thick light colored, branched spines with black tips. The caterpillars feed on currants and gooseberries.
Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
The upperside is black with white spots near the apex. Forewings with a red median band, hindwings with a red marginal band. Underside is mottled black, brown, and blue with a pink bar on the forwing. Caterpillars are variable in color, ranging from white or yellow-green to black, flecked with tiny, pale spots and larger creamy spots or strips on the lower abdomen. The head is dark with pale hairs. The body bears branched spines.Young caterpillars eat and live within a shelter of folded leaves; older caterpillars make a nest of leaves tied together with silk. Adults hibernate. Hosts include a variety of plants in the nettle family.
The upperside is orange-brown with darker wing bases. The forewing has a black apical patch and white bar and spots, the hindwing a submarginal row of 5 small black spots sometimes with blue scales. The undersideof the forewing is pink with olive, black, and white patterning. The hindwing has a black, brown, and gray pattern with 4 small submarginal eyespots. Caterpillars vary from green to yellow, pink, or nearly black. They usually have a pale strip along the back and wider ones along the sides. The head is dark with long hairs. The body segments have branched spines. The caterpillars live in silk nests and eat leaves. Adults hibernate only in the South and in mild winters. Many host plants have been noted; favorites include thistles, hollyhock and other mallows, and various members of the bean family.
American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis)
The upperside has an uneven brown, yellow, and orange pattern. Forewing with a black apical patch spotted with white. There is a small white spot in the orange field below the patch, and a white bar at the leading edge of the forewing. The underside is patterened olive, black, and white with a bright pink area on the forewing and two large eyespots on the hindwing. Caterpillars are variable in coloration but recognizable by the red bases of the branched abdominal spines and the thin, creamy bands across each segment. Most individuals have a white spot on either side of the abdominal segments. Catepillars are solitary, living and feeding in a nest of leaves tied with silk. Adults hibernate. They probably don't overwinter this far north but migrate south for the winter and back into our area in the early summer. Larvae feed on cudweed, everlasting, pearly everlasting, and related plants in the sunflower family.
Limenitidinae - Admirals and their relatives
The admirals and their relatives are found on most continents. Adults of most genera are characterized by their flap-and-glide flight. Caterpillar and chrysalis structure defines this group.
Viceroy (Limenitis archippus = Basilarchia archippus)
An orange and black butterfly, resembling the Monarch (Danaus plexippus), except the Viceroy has a black line across the hindwing and a single row of white dots in the black marginal band. Where Monarchs are rare in southern states, Viceroys are brown instead of orange and mimic the Queen (Danaus gilippus). Females lay eggs at the tip of host plant leaves, depositing only two or three eggs on a plant before moving to another. Caterpillars of the Viceroy, the White Admiral, and the Red Spotted Purple are quite similar, differing in the size of the head spines and the branched spines of the body. They are dark gray with irregular white markings and resemble bird droppings but differ from other bird dropping caterpillars by having long spined horns arising just behind the head and extending beyond it. Young caterpillars make a ball of leaf bits, dung, and silk which hangs off the leaf on which they are feeding; the dangling mass may distract predators. Third-stage caterpillars make a shelter from a rolled leaf tip in which to spend the winter. The Viceroy is a Mullerian mimic of the Monarch, and is itself also distasteful. The caterpillar feeds on trees in the willow family including willows (Salix), and poplars and cottonwoods (Populus).
White Admiral (Limenitis arthemis arthemis = Basilarchia arthemis)
A fairly large black butterfly with broad white median bands on both wings. The hindwing has a marginal row of blue dashes. Underside is reddish-brown with white median bands and marginal blue dashes as on the upperside plus a marginal row of red dots. Caterpillars of the Viceroy, the White Admiral, and the Red Spotted Purple are quite similar, differing in the size of the head spines and the branched spines of the body. They are dark gray with irregular white markings and resemble bird droppings but differ from other bird dropping caterpillars by having long spined horns arising just behind the head and extending beyond it. Caterpillars overwinter within rolled up leaves. Host plants include birches (Betula), willows (Salix) and poplars (Populus).
Red Spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax)
The Red Spotted Purple is a southern species which overlaps with the more northern White Admiral in our area. In the Red Spotted Purple, the upperside is blue-black to blue-green with much iridescence on the outer part of the hindwing. Underside is dark brown with 2 red-orange bars near the base of the leading edge of the forewing. The hindwing has 3 red-orange spots near the base and a submarginal row of red-orange spots. The two forms hybridize where their ranges overlap, creating various intermediate forms. Caterpillars of the Viceroy, the White Admiral, and the Red Spotted Purple are quite similar, differing in the size of the head spines and the branched spines of the body. They are dark gray with irregular white markings and resemble bird droppings but differ from other bird dropping caterpillars by having long spined horns arising just behind the head and extending beyond it. Third-stage caterpillars hibernate. Hosts include many species of trees and shrubs including wild cherry (Prunus), aspen, poplar, cottonwood (Populus), oaks (Quercus), hawthorn (Crataegus), birch (Betula), willows (Salix), basswood (Tilia), and shadbush (Amelanchier).
The Satyrinae are medium-sized species of the Family Nymphalidae. Members of this worldwide group are most often brown with one or more marginal eyespots. Males often have visible patches of specialized scales on the fore- or hindwings. Adults have short proboscises and rarely visit flowers, feeding instead on rotting fruit, animal droppings, or sap flows. The larvae of nearly all species feed on grasses and grasslike plants, including bamboos, rushes, and sedges. Adults usually perch with their wings closed, but open them wide when basking early in the morning or during cloudy weather. Most species have local colonies and are not migratory. Males patrol when searching for mates, flying in characteristic slow, skipping flight. Eggs are laid singly on the host leaves or stems, and caterpillars feed within shelters of several leaves sewn together with silk. Satyrinae typically overwinter as partially grown caterpillars.
Common Wood-Nymph (Cercyonis pegala)
A geographically variable species. Wings are light to dark brown. Upperside of forewing characteristically has 2 large yellow-ringed eyespots. Lowerside of hindwing has a variable number of small eyespots. The caterpillar is yellow-green with four lenthwise yellowish lines. It is covered with fine, fuzzy hairs and has two short, pink tipped spurs projecting from the rear. In late summer, females lay eggs singly on host plant leaves. Caterpillars hatch but do not feed, instead hibernating until spring. Larvae feed on grasses.
Common Ringlet (Coenonympha tullia)
Extremely variable geographically, with at least 4 subspecies sometimes recognized as separate species. Wings range from dark orange-brown to pale cream. Underside of forewing usually has a small eyespot near its tip. Underside of hindwing is gray-green with a wavy white median line. The caterpillar is green with well defined green and creamy stripes and two relatively short, pinkish anal spurs. First- and fourth-stage caterpillars hibernate in mats of dead grass. Larvae feed on grasses and rushes.
Northern Pearly-eye (Enodia anthedon)
The upperside is brown with four dark eyespots. Underside is brown. The submarginal row of 4 black spots on forewing is straight and the dark line inside it is sinuous. Hidwing has a row of usually 5 submarginal eyespots and another further removed from the margin along the forward edge. The caterpillar is green with a green dorsal strip and a yellow-green lateral stipe on each side. A pair of pink to red pointed spurs or horns project from the head and another from the the rear. The head horns are shorter than the width of the head. Eggs are laid singly on the host plant. Third- and fourth-stage caterpillars hibernate. Larvae feed on grasses.
Little Wood-Satyr (Megisto cymela)
Light brown, dull brown to tan below. Each wing has 2 prominent eyespots that show above and below. There may be smaller eyespots associated with the two main ones. Caterpillars are light brown. A pair of lobes projects from the head and another from the rear. The body is covered with pale, short, hair-tipped spines. A pale stripe extends along each side. Eggs are laid singly on grass blades. Fourth-stage caterpillars hibernate. Hosts include Orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata) and other grasses.
Appalachian Brown (Satyrodes appalachia)
Wings are medium brown. There are yellow or white ringed, submarginal eyespots on both sides of both forewings and hindwings. Lower side of forewing with the two end eyespots larger than the middle two. The spots may not touch. Dark line inside the hindwing row spot is sinuous, not zigzagged. Caterpillars are green with longitudinal green and yellow stripes. A pair of red tipped horns extends from the rear and another from the head. The head horns are slightly longer than the width of the head. Caterpillars feed on leaves at night and hide at the base of the host plant during the day. Third- and fourth-stage caterpillars hibernate. They live in brushy marshes and feed on sedges (Cyperaceae)
Eyed Brown (Satyrodes eurydice)
The upperside is light to medium brown with black eyespots. There is often a lighter area on the outer third of the forewing. Submarginal eyespots are visible both above and below. Those on the underside of forewing are all about the same size, usually touching or linked like a chain. The dark line inside the hindwing's spot row is zigzagged. Caterpillars are green with longitudinal green and yellow stripes. A pair of red tipped horns extends from the rear and another from the head. The head horns are slightly longer than the width of the head. Eggs are scattered on many different plants. Caterpillars eat leaves of various sedges (Carex). The third and fourth stages hibernate. This is a butterfly of wet, open meadows.
Monarchs and milkweed butterflies are members of Danainae, which is a subfamily of the Family Nymphalidae. The best known member of this family is the Monarch butterfly. Danaid females lay their eggs on the milkweed on which their larvae feed. The larvae and the butterflies retain the poisonous glycosides from the milkweed and are distastful and poisonous to predators.
Upperside of male is bright orange with wide black borders and black veins. Upperside of female is orange-brown with wide black borders and blurred black veins. Both sexes have white spots on borders and apex. Adults make massive migrations from August-October, flying thousands of miles south to hibernate along the California coast and in central Mexico. The caterpillar is yellow, white, and black banded with a pair of black filaments growing near the front and another near the rear. Larvae feed on milkweeds including common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) and swamp milkweed (A. incarnata). Most milkweeds contain cardiac glycosides which are stored in the bodies of both the caterpillar and adult. These poisons are distasteful and emetic to birds and other vertebrate predators. After tasting a Monarch, a predator might associate the bright warning colors of the adult or caterpillar with an unpleasant meal, and avoid Monarchs in the future.
Most skippers are small to medium sized, usually orange, brown, black, white, or gray. A few have iridescent colors. Skippers have large eyes, short antennae with curved or hooked tips, stout bodies, and three pairs of walking legs. Their flight is often rapid, making wing movement appear blurred. Larvae have a narrow neck and large head.
Pyrginae - Spread-wing Skippers
Most are tropical, but the duskywings and checkered-skippers are mainly temperate. Adults of many species land with their wings open or half open. They take nectar from flowers, and males of many species take in moisture from moist sand or mud. Some adults also feed on bird droppings. Females lay eggs singly. Most species lay eggs directly on host-plant leaves, while others lay on nearby plants or objects. Almost all species use broad-leafed plants as their caterpillar hosts, and caterpillars live in rolled-leaf or webbed-leaf shelters.
Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus)
Wings are brown-black with a stubby lobe on the hindwing. Forewing has transparent gold spots; underside of hindwing has a metallic silver band. Females lay single eggs near the host trees, and the caterpillars must find their proper host. Caterpillars are yellow with a wrinkeled appearance and orange head spots. The body segments have alternating yellow and green bands. Young caterpillars live in a folded leaf shelter; older ones live in a nest of silked-together leaves. Chrysalids hibernate. Host plants include many woody legumes including Black Locust (Robinia pseudacacia), Bristly Locust (R. hispida), and Honey Locust (Gleditsia triacanthos).
Wild Indigo Duskywing (Erynnis baptisiae)
Upperside of forewing is dark on the basal half and lighter on the outer half, with a distinct orange-brown patch at the end of the cell. There are glassy spots near the forewing tips. Young caterpillars are orange-white, grown ones light green, hairy, with white specks. The head is red, yellow, or orange patterened. Fully-grown caterpillars from the second brood hibernate. Usually feeds on wild indigo (Baptisia tinctoria), but also crown vetch (Coronilla varia).
Dreamy Duskywing (Erynnis icelus)
Wings are dark, forewing has no transparent spots but is dusted with gray scales and has bands of dark spots. Long labial palpi point forward; antennal clubs are pointed. Caterpillars are pale green with white dots betneath short hairs. There is a dark green stripe along the back. They feed on leaves of willows (Salix), poplars, aspens (Populus), and occasionally birch (Betula) and rest in leaf nests. Fully-grown caterpillars hibernate in leaf shelters.
Juvenal's Duskywing (Erynnis juvenalis)
Upperside of male is brown with clear white spots, bands of indistinct dark markings, and scattered white hairs. Female lighter color with larger markings and spots. Underside of hindwing of some forms has 2 round pale spots below the apex. Caterpillars are pale to yellow green with white flecks. A green line along the back and pale lines along the sides may be evident. The head is light to deep orange-brown with three orange spots on each side. Caterpillars feed on leaves and rest in nests of rolled or tied leaves. Fully-grown caterpillars hibernate. Hosts are various species of oaks (Quercus).
Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades)
Upperside is dark brown; clear white spots on forewing are small, triangular, and not aligned. Underside is brown with gray overscaling; hindwing has 2 dark bands. Caterpillars are pale green to brown and covered with short hairs many growing from cream colored spots. There is an indistinct dark stripe on the back and a light stripe on either side. Caterpillars feed on leaves and live in shelters of rolled or tied leaves. Fully-grown caterpillars hibernate. Hosts include various plants in the pea family (Fabaceae) including beggar's ticks (Desmodium), clover (Trifolium), and others.
The small to medium-sized adults usually have abruptly angled antennae with an apiculus at the tip. Adults of many temperate species are predominantly orange, while brown is the most common color of the tropical species. Male forewings usually have a brand or stigma with specialized scales. Adult flight is rapid, and perching posture is unique: the hindwings are opened at a wider angle than the forewings. Caterpillars feed on grasses and related plants and live in silken leaf nests that sometimes extend underground. Grass skippers typically overwinter as caterpillars within their shelters.
Delaware Skipper (Anatrytone logan)
Wings are bright tawny-orange. Upperside has black borders and black veins near the margins. The forewing has a black bar at the end of the cell. Females have wider borders and darker markings than males. Underside has no markings but may have darker orange veins. Caterpillars are light green with black and white bands near the tail and a black band just behind the head. The head is black with white markings. Caterpillars eat the leaves of various grasses and use them to make nests.
Least Skipper (Ancyloxypha numitor)
A small skipper with short antennae. Upperside of forewing is orange with a wide, diffuse black border at the outer margin; hindwing is yellow-orange with a wide black margin. Underside of forewing is black with orange borders at the tip and leading edge; hindwing is yellow-orange. Caterpillars are green, slender and elongate. White glands occur at the lower edge of some of the rear segments. A broader white and narrower black band appear just behind the head. The head has light and dark stripes. Caterpillars feed on leaves of rice cutgrass (Leersia oryzoides) and other grasses and rest in nests of rolled or tied leaves. Third- and fourth-stage caterpillars hibernate.
Wings are brown-black without markings except for a black stigma on the male forewing and very small cloudy white spots on the female forewing. Caterpillars are elongate and pale green with a black and a white band just behind the head. There is a weakly defined darker line along the back and pale streaking along the back and sides. The head has a black spot over the top surrounded by a white inverted "U" marking. Two other sets of white markings run down the sides of the head. Caterpillars feed on leaves of sedges, including yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus) and some species of Carex, and make shelters of rolled or tied leaves. Third-stage caterpillars hibernate, emerge in the spring to complete their development, and pupate in silken tubes at the base of the plants.
Leonard's Skipper (Hesperia leonardus leonardus)
Upperside is red-orange with wide black border on the male and tawny orange bands on the female. Underside of hindwing is brick red with an offset band of white, cream, or yellow spots. Caterpillars are maroon with green highlights. They feed on leaves of various grasses and live in shelters of tied leaves. First-stage caterpillars hibernate.
Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus)
Antennae are very short. Male has wide black stigma and pattern of pale yellow-orange above. Underside of the hindwing is scattered with small black spots. Female has large tawny spots and a very irregular orange band. Underside of hindwing is pale brown with paler checks. Caterpillars are tan with three lengthwise dark stripes. They eat leaves of various grasses and roll and tie them to make shelters which lie horizontally in the sod. It cannot survive harsh winters. Each summer this skipper may stray north and re-colonize our area.
Ocola Skipper (Panoquina ocola)
The forewings are long, projecting far beyond the hindwings when the butterfly is at rest. Upperside of wings is dark brown, the forewing with some pale spots. Underside of wings is brown with no markings. The caterpillar is yellow at first, then becomes green with the first 2 segments bluish-green. There are green spots and lines. It feeds on various grasses. This is a southern species which strays north to our area.
Hobomok Skipper (Poanes hobomok)
Upperside of male is yellow-orange with irregular black borders and a black marking mid-wing. Underside of hindwing has purple-gray on the inner margin. Female has 2 forms. Upperside of normal form is duller and has less orange than the male; underside of hindwing is orange with purple-gray at the inner margin. Upperside of dark form is purple-black with some dull white spots on the forewing; underside is purple-black with the pattern obscured. Caterpillar is tan to orange-brown with indistinct dark spots and covering of velvety short hairs.There are indistinct dorsal and lateral stripes. The head is rusty brown without a color pattern. A light brown and a narrower dark brown band occur just behind the head. Hosts include various grasses.
Upperside is dark brown with reddish to yellow orange markings. Forewing of female has a broad black patch at the base. Male forewing has a long black mark running towards the apex. Underside of hindwing is orange-brown with a curved band of equal-sized yellowish spots. Caterpillars of all our species in this genus are very similar. They are dirty brown with a sprinkling of pale spots and a dark dorsal stripe. The head is large and very dark and set on a black collar. Caterpillars feed on leaves of grasses, particularly bluegrasses (Poa spp.), and live in shelters of tied leaves. Fourth-stage caterpillars hibernate.
Peck's Skipper (Polites peckius)
Upperside of male is brown with reddish-orange patches. Female is darker. Underside of the hindwing of both sexes has a patch of large yellow spots in the center surrounded by dark brown. Caterpillars of all our species in this genus are very similar. They are dirty brown with a sprinkling of pale spots and a dark dorsal stripe. The head is large and very dark and set on a black collar. In this species there is an indistinct white line on either side of the midline of the head and a short white bar below the eyes. Caterpillars eat leaves of grasses, including bluegrasses (Poa spp.) and rice cutgrass (Leersia oryzoides) and live in leaf shelters. Caterpillars and chrysalids hibernate.
Tawny-edged Skipper (Polites thermistocles)
Upperside is dark brown with orange markings; orange extends along the front edge of the forewing. Female has band of yellow spots. Underside of hindwing is yellow-brown with no markings. Caterpillars of all our species in this genus are very similar. They are dirty brown with a sprinkling of pale spots and a dark dorsal stripe. The head is large and very dark and set on a black collar. Caterpillars feed on leaves of panic grasses (Panicum spp.), crabgrass (Digitaria spp.), and bluegrass (Poa spp.) and live in shelters of tied leaves. Chrysalids hibernate.
Little Glassywing (Pompeius verna)
Wings are black or blackish brown. White spots show on both surfaces of the forewing. Hindwing has vague yellowish spots on under surface. Caterpillars are green or tan with darker dorsal and lateral stripes and speckles. They eat leaves of grasses and live in shelters of rolled or tied leaves.
European Skipper (Thymelicus lineola)
Wings are brassy burnt orange. Upperside of both wings with black borders and black on the outer portions of the veins. Forewing is orange below, hindwind is tan-brown. Eggs overwinter and hatch the following spring. Caterpillars are green with a green middorsal stripe with a paler stripe on each edge and another creamy stripe a bit lower. The head is brown with two white stripes sometimes bordered by black stripes. The eat leaves of Timothy (Phleum pratense) and other grasses and live in shelters of leaves tied together with silk. This skipper was introduced accidently to North America in 1910 in London, Ontario.
Northern Broken-Dash (Wallengrenia egeremet)
Upperside is dark brown. Male forewing has a cream spot and a divided line of dark scales. The female forewing has a few elongated cream spots. Underside is dark brown or purple-brown; hindwing has a pale band of spots. Caterpillars are green with dark mottling, a yellow-edged back stripe and brown head. They eat leaves of panic grasses (Panicum spp.). Half-grown caterpillars hibernate.