Butterflies
Quick Notes:
Azures, Blues, Elfins, Hairstreaks
Several genera of small butterflies ranging from blue to gray to brown. Many are among our earliest butterflies in spring. The Azures are particularly hard to tell apart, and quite honestly, I don’t try.
Brush-Footed Butterflies
This is a mixed bag that includes Commas, Question Marks, Tortoiseshells, and Admirals–mostly woodland and edge species. It also includes the Ladies (Vanessa) and Buckeyes of sunny openings, Viceroysk, Emperors, Purples (Limenitis). and the popular Monarch.
Coppers & Harvesters
Small, brightly colored butterflies, Copper larvae feed on members of the Dock family. They fly early in the year and have a second generation toward the end of summer and into the fall.
Crescents and Checkerspots
Brightly patterned, medium size butterflies, generally orange and black. We have two crescents: Northern and Pearl, which are told apart by the hindwing underneath (Pearl has a nice pearl-colored crescent, Northern has a dark gray smudge). Pearl Crescents are extremely common. I’m never certain about Northern Crescents. We have three Checkerspots, two in the genus Chlosyne–I have only seen the Silver-spotted–and the Baltimore Checkerspot, a gorgeous critter that is uncommmon, local, and has a very short flight period (2-3 weeks).
Fritillaries
Medium to large with warm browns and oranges, usually boldy marked with black. The word, according to my dictionary, is pronounced frit-uh-larry. Most caterpillars feed on members of the violet family.
Satyrs and Browns
Mostly brown, medium-size butterflies of woods and edges. All have prominent eye spots. The Wood Nymph stands out with its bright yellow patch. We have two Browns–Appalachian and Eyed–one Satyr–Little Wood Satyr, and the Northern Pearly Eye.
Skippers
Tiny butterflies that dart rapidly from place to place, some rest wings open, others forewings up and hindwings spread. Almost all have a hooked antenna (apicula). These can be devilishly hard to identify. I have had considerable help with the identifications, but all errors are mine.
Swallowtails
Large, boldly patterned butterflies. Most have “tails” on their hindwings.
Whites and Sulphurs
Confusing, common, white and yellow mid-sized butterflies. With the Sulphurs, you can usually see enough orange in flight to help with the ID, but once they land, they’re indistinguishable.