Selected Butterfly Species

Native Species * Tropical species * Additional Photographs * Videos

NATIVE SPECIES LIST

Common Name: Black Swallowtail Scientific Name: Papilio polyxenes Description: May be attracted to gardens by parsley or carrot plants, and nectar sources such as phlox and milkweed. Less blue and less rapid than the Pipevine Swallowtail, the Eastern Black likes to flit among the vegetation, drifting and stalling again and again, until disturbed; then it takes off in a direct line, making it most difficult to pursue.
	Common Name: Buckeye Scientific Name: Junonia coenia Description: Found throughout much of North America, but not able to overwinter very far north. In the autumn along the east coast they migrate south in large groups. The Buckeye's telltale eyespots can be effective in scaring off predators.
Common Name: Cloudless Sulfur Scientific Name: Phoebis sennae Description: Summer movements bring this butterfly to states far north of its winter range, and autumn emigrations greatly reinforce its northern numbers, sometimes introducing millions to relatively small areas. This butterfly's appearance in the Rockies or New York is a real event. Yet all of these northern emigrants die without returning south.
	Common Name: Giant Swallowtail Scientific Name: Papilio cresphontes Description: One of the largest North American butterflies (up to 5 ½ inches). They are sometimes considered a pest by citrus growers and are subject to spraying efforts. This species is capable of flying long distances and occasionally strays into northern and mid-western states.
Common Name: Great Southern White Scientific Name: Ascia monuste Description: Male and females are dimorphic (look different). Males are white with pointed, full wings. Charcoal scales dust tips and surrounding veins. Females are either like males but with darker margins, or entirely suffused with smoky brown or gray scales. This species builds up to enormous numbers prior to northerly emigrations. The mass movements are very impressive - for days, the large butterflies pass in small clusters, flying in a rapid and very directed manner.
	Common Name: Gulf Fritillary Scientific Name: Agraulis vanillae Description: As its name implies, this beautiful insect haunts the Gulf of Mexico, and may be seen flying far out over the water. Colonization of the North is temporary, as neither the butterfly nor its host plants can withstand northern winters.
Common Name: Julia Scientific Name: Dryas iulia Description: The Julia differs in several respects from the other longwings. The female's duller coloring may protect its valuable egg load from attack by predators. The Julia is also thought to be distasteful because its caterpillars feed on poisonous passion flowers. Adults are vigorous fliers but often stop to take nectar at flowers.
	Common Name: Malachite Scientific Name: Siproeta stelenes Description: A newly emerged malachite is very bright but their marble green color fades with exposure to sunlight. Malachites may feed all day long and may fly to flowers 38 feet high in the canopy. A southern Florida population has been established since the 1960s, presumably having emigrated from Cuba.
Common Name: Mourning Cloak Scientific Name: Nymphalis antiopa Description: This butterfly camouflages itself against dark bark when at rest. They show a great contrast between under and upper sides. When startled into flight, they may emit an audible click sound. Mourning Cloaks are one of the few butterflies that overwinter as adults. Adults emerge in mid-summer and fly into the fall. After overwintering, they fly again in early spring.
	Common Name: Orange-barred Sulfur Scientific Name: Phoebis philea Description: The Orange-barred Sulfur has been established in southern Florida since the 1930's. It is a powerful speedster in flight, but pauses often to probe for nectar from many kinds of flowers.
Common Name: Palamedes Swallowtail Scientific Name: Papilio palamedes Description: This butterfly is the signature swallowtail of the great swamps - the Everglades, the Great Dismal, Okefenokee, Okeechobee, and Big Cypress. In common with many swamp skippers, the adults love to take nectar from pickerelweed, and they are reported to roost communally in oaks and palmettos.
	Common Name: Pipevine Swallowtail Scientific Name: Battus philenor Description: Horticulture has increased the range of host plants, so this butterflys range has expanded over the years. The vines that these caterpillars feed on is rather distasteful. The butterflies retain the unpleasant taste, causing birds to avoid them. Several other butterflies mimic this butterflys pattern. This mimicry may also protect them from predation.
Common Name: Queen Scientific Name: Danaus gilippus Description: The Queen cannot withstand cold winters. Records for northwestern Utah, Nebraska, and Kansas represent temporary immigrations. Male Queens possess brushes, or hair pencils, within the tips of their abdomens. As courtship begins these brushes are extended, releasing a compound that subdues the female during mating.
	Common Name: Question Mark Scientific Name: Polygonia interrogationis Description: The Question Mark is not found west of the Rockies. Like the other anglewings, the adult Question Mark loves sap and rotting fruit. Normally highly alert, these butterflies can actually become intoxicated if the fruit they are drinking has fermented in the sun.
Common Name: Red Admiral Scientific Name: Vanessa atalanta Description: This species moves north in the spring and also shows some evidence of a loose migration south in the fall. If the winter is mild, some individuals may overwinter in the north, but are not usually year-round residents in freezing climates. Adults frequently land on people and seem to prefer white t-shirts.
	Common Name: Red-spotted Purple Scientific Name: Limenitis arthemis Description: The Red-spotted Purple is a mimic of the toxic Pipevine Swallowtail. Along the northern edge of its range, the Red-spotted Purple hybridizes with the White Admiral to produce partially banded offspring. Some lepidopterists consider them one species, but genetic evidence suggests that they have come together relatively recently.
Common Name: Red Daggerwing Scientific Name: Marpesia petreus Description: Such a bright, large butterfly draws the attention of birds; perhaps the hooked forewing tips and hindwing tails divert attacks from vital parts. While the caterpillars thrive on fig leaves, adults love rotting figs, other fruits, and giant milkweed.
	Common Name: Spicebush Swallowtail Scientific Name: Papilio troilus Description: This butterfly is a Pipevine Swallowtail mimic. This species is native to eastern North America, but on rare occasions strays into Colorado. It is not uncommon to find large numbers of Spicebush Swallowtails gathered at a roadside puddle. Like many other butterflies, males gather at these mud puddles to take up salts and minerals essential for sperm production.
Common Name: White Peacock Scientific Name: Anartia jatrophae Description: Much more limited to the Tropics than its relative the Buckeye, the White Peacock also invades the North. However, it is neither as strong a flier nor as hardy as the Buckeye, and remains a rarity outside its southern strongholds.
	Common Name: Zebra Longwing Scientific Name: Heliconius charitonius Description: The Zebra Longwings flight is slow, feeble and wafting. But, if necessary, they may dart quickly to shelter. They roost together at night, gathering at dusk.
Common Name: Zebra Swallowtail Scientific Name: Eurytides marcellus Description: Occurs only near pawpaw plants (or its relatives). They usually fail to adapt to suburban growth and development so their numbers are declining in many areas.

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TROPICAL SPECIES LIST

The tropics have more butterflies than any other ecosystem in the world. They range widely in color, shape and size. Many have bright colors on the insides of their wings, and dull patterns on the outside. The bright colors may be use to attract a mate or to announce to birds their bad taste. The dull patterns on the outside of the wings act as camouflage. The warm year-round temperatures allow for lush plant growth and year round flowers. This allows butterflies to feed and breed year round, unlike many North American species.
	Common Name: Cracker Scientific Name: Hamadryas laodamia Range: Mexico - Amazon Basin. Occurs in all forest types but most common in Atlantic lowlands. Description: Round wing shape. Both sexes have velvet black upperwing with blue spots and iridescent blue-black underside with red spots near the edges. Females have a white band on the forewing (male does not) Habits: Both sexes fly in the canopy and sub-canopy, occasionally coming to the ground. Perch head down with wings spread Red on the wing may indicate bitter taste to birds.
Common Name: Grecian Shoemaker Scientific Name: Catonephele numilia Range: Mexico - S.Brazil, Argentina. Most common in wet forests, less common in mountain forests. Seldom abundant Description: Males and female look very different. Males: six orange spot on a black background. Females: cream colored band on the edge of the forewing and no band on the hindwing. Habits: Usually solitary. Males perch in high up in the canopy from morning to early afternoon. Females fly during mid-day.
	Common Name: King Shoemaker Scientific Name: Archeoprepona demophon Range: Mexico - Amazon Basin. Widespread and common. All forests and second growth forest habitats, but less frequent in deciduous forest. Description: Upperside has a greenish blue band - the underside is pale brownish gray. The edge of the hind wing is wavy. Habits: Very fast fliers. Fly in an erratic path. Make a rustling sound that can be heard several yards away. Males perch head down on trunks and vigorously chase other passing butterflies.
Common Name: Morpho Scientific Name: Morpho grenadensis Range: Nicaragua - Ecuador. Confined to the Atlantic slope. Description: Entirely blue. Hindwings have short jagged "teeth" on the margin. Eye spots on the underside of the hindwing do not have "pupils" Habits: Usually solitary.
	Common Name: Morpho Scientific Name: Morpho peleides Range: Mexico - Colombia and Venezuela. All forest habitats. Common Description: Varying amounts of blue. Eye spots on the underside of the hindwing have "pupils" Habits: Floppy zigzag flight. Often seen along rivers, forest edges and coffee plantations. Males active morning and mid-day, females active mid-day.
Common Name: Owl Scientific Name: Caligo atreus Range: Mexico through Peru, Venezuela, Colombia - a lowland species Description: Known as owl butterfly because of large spot (ocelli) on the hindwings. One of the largest neotropical butterflies. Purple upperside and a broad yellow band on the margin of the hindwing.
	Common Name: Red Cattleheart Scientific Name: Parides photinus Range: Mexico to Costa Rica. Deciduous forest. Relatively common. Description: Blue sheen on the hindwing and a double row of dots near the margin. Habits: Usually solitary. Often seen along forest edges and road cuts.
Common Name: Royal Blue Scientific Name: Myselia cyaniris Range: Mexico - Peru. Rainforest habitats Description: Iridescent blue upperside (females less so). Habits: Males perch 4-8 yards above the ground on tree trunks at the forest edge. Females are active during mid-day. When at rest they fold forewing down over hindwing - forming a triangle shape.
	Common Name: Zebrawing Scientific Name: Heliconius eleuchia Range: Costa Rica - Ecuador, Colombia. Most common in tropical wet forest. Description: Yellow band on the forewing and white band on the margin of the hindwing. Rare in Costa Rica Habits: Frequently seen flying along rivers (riparian areas) and ridge tops in the early morning.

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ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS

Passion Flower	Small Blue Grecian	Longwing
Passion Flower	Golden Helicon	Longwing
Haitian Cracker	Pink Cattleheart	Small Postman

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