Common Butterflies and Skippers of Ohio Field Guide

8/12/2019 Common Butterflies and Skippers of Ohio Field Guide

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The popularity of butterflies (order Lepidop-tera) is booming. This is not at all surprising.Not only are butterflies among the most beau-tiful animals in the world, but their behavior andhabitats are fascinating. The advent of close-fo-cusing binoculars has vastly improved our abilityto make field identifications and observations.Today, people interested in butterflies have amuch easier time pursuing this hobby due toa big increase in recent years in the number of

butterfly-related publications.There are 137 species of butterflies and

skippers recorded from Ohio. This publicationcovers fifty-nine of the species you are mostlikely to encounter in the state. We hope thatthis booklet will help you better appreciate afascinating part of Ohios rich natural history.

HOW TO USE THIS BOOKLETINTRODUCTION

Common Butterflies and Skippersof Ohio Second Edition

Text by: Dave Parshall, Jim Davidson,& Jim McCormac

TA BLE OF CONTENTS4 Attracting Butterf l ies

5 Butterf ly L i fe H istory

6 Why Are They Important?

7 Habitats and Host P lants

74 Glossary

75 Organization Contacts

76 Butterf ly Hotspots

80 Butterf ly Checkl is t

8 Butterf ly Conservat ion

9 Migrat ion and Monitor ing

10 Basic Butterf ly Anatomy

12 Butterf l ies

73 T ips and Acknowledgmen ts

COMMON NAME

FAMILY

PAGE

AVERAGE SIZE S ILHOUETTE

COUNTIES WHERESPECIES HAS BEEN

DOCUMENTED

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS

SCIENTIFIC NAME

VENTRAL (UNDERNEATH) VIEW

SCIENTIFIC NAMEPRONUNCIATION

DORSAL (TOP) VIEW

EGG, PUPA, ORCATERPILLAR STAGE

( IF USED)


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SPECIES INDEX

SWALLOWTAIL FAMI LY

12 P ipevine Swallowtail

13 Zebra Swallowtail

14 Black Swallowtail

15 Giant Swallowtail

16 Eastern T iger Swal lowtai l

17 Spicebus h Swallowtail

SULPHUR & WHIT E FAMI LY18 Cabbage White

19 Fa lcate Oranget ip

20 C l o u d e d & O r a n g e S u l p h u r

GOSSAMER-W ING FAMILY

21 Harvester

22 American Copper

23 Bronze Copper

24 Coral Hairs t reak

25 Edwards Hairstre ak

26 Banded Hairst reak

27 Henrys E l f in

28 Gray Hairst reak

29 Eastern Tai led-Blue

30 Spr ing & Summer Azure

31 Northern Metalmark

BRUSHFOOT FAMILY

32 American Snout

33 Great Spangled Fr i t i l lary

34 Aphrodite Fr i t i l lary

35 Meadow Fr i t i l lary

36 S i lvery Checkerspot

37 Pear l Crescent

38 Balt imore Checkerspot

39 Quest ion Mark

40 Eastern Comma

41 Mourning Cloak

42 Red Admiral

43 American Lady44 Common Buckeye

45 Red-spotted Purple

46 Viceroy

47 Hackberry Emperor

48 Tawny Emperor

49 Monarch

50 Northern Pear ly-eye

51 L itt le Wood-Satyr

52 Common Wood-Nymph

53 Appalachi an Brown

SKIPPER FAMILY

54 Si lver-spotted Skipper

55 Hoary Edge

56 Southern Cloudywing

57 Dreamy Duskywing

58 Wi ld Indigo Duskywing

59 Common Sootywing

60 Least Skipper

61 European Skipper

62 Leonards Sk ipper

63 Pecks Skipper

64 Northern Broken-Dash

65 Delaware Sk ipper66 Hobomok Skipper

67 Zabulon Sk ipper

68 Dun Sk ipper

RARE BUTTERFLIES IN OHIO

69 Karner Blue

70 Frosted Elf in

71 Purpl ish Copper

72 Dusted Sk ipper

ON THE COVER:

ZEBRA SWALLOWTAIL PHOTO BY BILL HULLW W W . M A N G O V E R D E . C O M

ON THE BACK:

CHECKLIST OF OHIO BUTTERFLIES AND SKIPPERS

ON THE WEB:

W W W . W I L D O H I O . C O M


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A TTRA CTINGBUTTERFLIES

An astonishing array of butterflies can be luredto gardens and landscapes that contain appro-priate plants. This is especially true if you are

fortunate enough to live near large, naturalbutterfly habitats like woodlands, old fields, orwetlands. A good rule of thumb is to use nativeplants. Not only can the butterfly gardener plantsuitable host plants, but attractive nectar plantsshould also be installed. Many of the plants thatare most effective in luring butterflies are alsovery aesthetically pleasing. Most nurseries sellgood butterfly plants.

Another technique for attracting butterfliesmay seem strange, but can be very effective.Placing old, rotting fruit like apples and bananasaround the garden will often lure in many but-terflies, and allow observers to closely admirethem.

Monarch

chrysalis. By

planting ap-

propriate host

plants, some

butterflies, like

the monarch,

can be enticed

to lay eggs and

reproduce in

your yard.

Funding for this publication was provided by donationsto the state income tax checkoff program andsales of the wildlife conservation license plate.

To make donations, mailed to:

Wildlife Diversity Fund2045 Morse Road Bldg G.

Columbus, OH 43229-6693

PUBLICA TION

FUNDING

For more information about Ohiosnative wildlife, please contact

the Division of Wildlife at:

1-800-WILDLIFE

(1-800-750-0750 Ohio Relay TTY only)w w w . w i l d o h i o . c o m

To purchase a license plate:

visit your local registrars officeor call BMV 1-888-PLATES3


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The beautiful butterflies we admire are in thefinal adult phase of their interesting life history.Adults often live for only a few weeks; the lon-gest-lived Ohio butterfly is the monarch, which

might survive for ten months. The principle ac-tivity of adult butterflies is to reproduce. Thebutterfly life cycle is known as complete meta-morphosis and has four stages. It begins when afemale butterfly lays her eggs on a suitable hostplant. After several days, the eggs hatch into

caterpillars, which go through several distinctperiods of growth stages known as instars. Eachsuccessive instar is larger than the previous oneand requires the caterpillar to shed its skin. In

many species of gossamer-winged butterflies(Lycaenidae), larvae are tended by ants.

When the fully mature caterpillar is ready totransform into a butterfly, it enters the chrysalisor pupal stage. A chrysalis is a protective, of-ten camouflaged bag in which the caterpillar

undergoes a physiological transformation intoa butterfly. This stage can last anywhere from aweek to several weeks and in some cases, thebutterfly overwinters in this form. The adult

that emerges is the final stage of the butterflyslife cycle. One might think of caterpillars as vo-racious eating machines, butterflies as breedingmachines, and eggs and chrysalises are the toolsof transformation.

BUTTERFLY LIFE HISTORY

The eggs of the question mark, like most otherbutterflies, are tiny and easily missed. These eggsare on the foliage of an elm.

Many gossamer-wing butterflies have a mutualis-tic relationship with ants known as myrmecoph-ily. This dusky azure larva is being tended by ants,who receive nutritious secretions from the cat-erpillar. In return, the ants guard the larvae frompredators such as wasps.

A chrysalis is the pupal stage of a butterfly. Theadult will emerge from the chrysalis, often afteroverwintering in this form, as with swallowtailsand whites. While some chrysalises are quiteshowy, many are drab and leaf-like, includingthe red admiral chrysalis pictured above. Redadmirals do not overwinter in the chrysalis stage,but usually as adults and to the south of Ohio.


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Chestnut-sided warbler (Dendroicapensylvanica) with moth larva. Birds eattremendous numbers of Lepidopteran

larvae and without butterflies and moths, thepopulations of many songbirds would crash, if

not disappear altogether.

Butterflies are among the most spectacularand easily observed winged creatures. Manypeople enjoy observing them, and seekingout rare species. Because many butterflies are

well-known and easily recognized, they are aneffective group of organisms to use as barom-eters of ecological health. Many butterfliesalso play an important role in the pollinationof our native plants.

Interest in butterflies has soared in popu-larity in recent years and now contributes toecotourism. A number of butterfly-orientedfestivals have sprung up in North America

that draw large numbers of people to primebutterfly-watching locales. Perhaps the mostdramatic example involves the monarch. Notonly do Ohioans enjoy observing them, sodo the large numbers of people who travelto their Mexican wintering sites to observethe huge masses of roosting monarchs cloak-ing fir trees.

Finally, our forests and fields would be farquieter places without butterflies. The role oftheir larvae caterpillars - in nature cannotbe understated. A great many of our songbirdsfeed heavily on butterfly and moth larvae, tothe point where populations of some birdswould decline alarmingly or disappear if therewere no caterpillars.

W HY A RE THEY IMPORTA NT? PA RA SITISM OFCA TERPILLARS

Numerous species of birds, mammals,insects and other animals are adept atseeking out caterpillars and consume

huge numbers of them. Many othersare parasitized by any of a number ofspecies of wasps and flies. The adults ofthese parasites seek out specific types ofcaterpillars and either attach their eggsto the outside of the host, or inject theminto the body. When the larvae hatch,they begin consuming the caterpillar,which will remain alive for some time.

Eventually, the larvae kill the host, asparasitoid infestations are nearly alwaysfatal. In the photo below, a Fawn Sphinxmoth caterpillar (Sphinx kalmiae) hasbeen infested by a wasp, and the larvaehave formed conspicuous cocoons -surefire proof of parasites. Some speciescocoons resemble tiny white oblong-

shaped eggs sticking fromthe caterpillar.


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Road throughShawnee State Forest,which at 65,000 acres

harbors tremendousnumbers and diversity

of forest-dependentLepidoptera.

Cedar Bog is anunusual fen that

supports a diversity ofwetland-dependent

butterflies. It was onethe last known sites forthe swamp metalmark

in Ohio.

One of the mostspectacular of the

Oak Opening habitats,the oak savannas of

Kitty Todd Preserveare carpeted withwild lupine in May.

This was the firstsite of successful

reintroductions of theendangered Karner

blue in Ohio.

Turtlehead (Cheloneglabra) is a hostplant for Baltimorecheckerspot (page38 ). This plant is rather

uncommon and localand largely confined tohigh-quality wetlands.As a consequence, sois the checkerspot.

One of the mostcommon of Ohiosthirty-three speciesof native asters ,New England aster(Symphyotrichumnovae-angliae) isfrequently foundin old fields. Along

with other commonasters, this aster isthe host plant for thepearl crescent (page37). This explains thebutterflys widespreadabundance.

HA BITA TS A NDHOST PLA NTS

At least some butterflies can be found almostanywhere. Cabbage whites, clouded sulphurs, andmigratory monarchs turn up everywhere fromgardens to inner-city parks to wild prairies and

nearly all points in between. Most species are farmore specific and a basic understanding of habitatrequirements will greatly aid in finding butterflies.In general, most butterflies are found along theedges of woods and in sunny fields rich with flow-ering plants. Many species seldom stray far fromthe presence of their host plants and are bestsought in those habitats. An understanding of thehabitat, host plants, and the time of year that a spe-cies flies will greatly improve your chance of find-

ing a specific butterfly. Descriptions of habitats forthe species included in this booklet can be foundunder each species account.

Most butterflies require certain species ofplants on which to lay their eggs; these are knownas host plants. Host plants provide specific nutri-ents that the caterpillar must have and inappropri-ate plants will usually be shunned. Some butterfliesare rather general in their host plant requirements.

For instance, pearl crescents will utilize many spe-cies of asters. Others, like the zebra swallowtail,are far more specific. It uses only pawpaw (Asiminatriloba) as a larval host plant. Thus, a little botanicalknowledge is useful in learning more about but-terflies and in finding them. This booklet includesthe host plants for each butterfly listed.


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Many species of butterflies are very habitat-specific and sensitive to environmental changes.For instance, of the eight species currently listedas endangered in Ohio, three depend on wet-

lands. Four of Ohios rare species are detailedtowards the back of this booklet. Since the timeof European settlement, Ohio has lost over 90%of its original wetlands and wetland-dependentbutterflies such as the purplish copper, swampmetalmark, and Mitchells satyr have declinedaccordingly. Some butterflies are intimately as-sociated with rare plants and their populationsare limited by the presence of these suitablehost plants. Other species seem to be sensi-tive to climate change or factors not yet fullyunderstood and often first begin to vanish onthe edges of their range. This has been the casewith the regal fritillary in Ohio and throughoutthe eastern U.S. Finally, excessive use of pesti-cides has played a role in diminishing butterflypopulations. The grizzled skipper and Olympiamarble are examples of populations of butter-flies that have been greatly reduced by use of

chemicals in attempts to control Gypsy Mothpopulations. Habitat loss and the overuse ofpesticides are the primary causes of the declineof butterflies.

BUTTERFLY CONSERV A TION

Once known from 51 of Ohios 88 counties,the striking regal fritillary has not been seen

in the state since 1988.

Fortunately, efforts to manage butterflypopulations are increasing. One of the best ex-amples in Ohio involves the beautiful Karnerblue (page 69 ). Because of collaborative efforts

between the Ohio Division of Wildlife, ToledoZoo, The Nature Conservancy, Metroparks of

the Toledo Area, Ohio Division of Forestry, TheOhio Lepidopterists, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Ser-vice, and the Detroit Zoo, these tiny butterfliesstill fly in Ohio. The Ohio Division of Wildlife

and other land management agencies own notonly Karner blue habitat, but tens of thousandsof acres of varied butterfly habitats throughoutOhio.

Butterfly enthusiasts in increasing numbersare planting butterfly gardens and becoming in-volved in butterfly recovery programs. Privateorganizations such as The Ohio Lepidopterists,www.Ohiolepidopterists.org , The Xerces So-

ciety http://www.xerces.org, and the ButterflyInitiative www.butterflyrecovery.org are justa few examples of groups whose mission is tohelp conserve butterflies and moths. These or-ganizations can also help you plan a butterflygarden. Ohios zoos, including the Toledo Zooand the Cleveland Zoo, work in partnershipswith the Ohio Division of Wildlife and otheragencies to reintroduce some of Ohios butter-flies that are gone or nearly gone from Ohio. Ifyou appreciate butterflies and want to conservethem, ample opportunities exist for getting in-volved.


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Huge, showy cloudless sulphurs ofteninvade Ohio in large numbers from thesouth, especially in mid to late summer.Their primary range is the southern Gulf

and Atlantic states south into Mexico andCentral America.

Birds arent the only members of the wingedworld that migrate. Many species of butterfliesalso engage in long-distance migrations. Themonarch is the most famous example. Many ofOhios monarchs travel to Mexico in fall, wherethey winter in high-elevation fir forests. Somespecies of butterflies engage in northward mi-grations in summer and fall; these movementsare known as immigrations. Immigrants nor-mally breed well south of Ohio, and their num-

bers here can vary widely from year to year.Most immigrants cant survive winters this farnorth, even though some species do lay eggsand attempt to reproduce in Ohio. Southern

immigrants that arrive in Ohio early enough inthe season, like cloudless sulphurs sometimesdo, occasionally produce a brood.

COMM ON MIGRA NTS

Cloudless Sulphur, Phoebis sennae

Little Sulphur,Eurema lisa

Sleepy Orange, Eurema nicippe

Variegated Fritillary, Euptoieta claudiaPainted Lady, Vanessa cardui

Buckeye,Junonia coenia

Checkered Skipper, Pyrgus communis

Fiery Skipper, Hylephila phyleus

Sachem,Atalopedes campestris

RA RE MIGRA NTS

Checkered White, Pontia protodice

Southern Dogface,Colias cesonia

Dainty Sulphur,Nathalis iole

Goatweed Leafwing,Anaea andria

Ocola Skipper, Panoquina ocola

Bronze coppers are wetland-dependentand important indicators of habitat.

Butterflies utilize unique ecological nichesand are barometers of changing environmentalconditions. Many environmental changes arefirst felt by butterflies and birds. In recent years,an increasing number of organized long-termsurveys have sprung up around the country thatare designed to record butterfly numbers and

diversity from year to year. In Ohio, the firstbutterfly monitoring project was established byThe Ohio Lepidopterists and the Ohio Divisionof Wildlife in 1995. There are now 60 sites andmore are being added each year. If you wouldlike to become a butterfly monitor, contact TheOhio Lepidopterists or the Ohio Division ofWildlife. Many individuals have discovered the

joy of butterflies and are taking up butterflygardening and butterfly watching. In turn, they

are keeping lists of butterflies that visit theirbackyards or elsewhere on field trips. The firststep in increasing enjoyment of Ohios butter-flies and skippers, and recording accurate data,is being able to correctly identify the butterfliesthat you see.

BUTTERFLY MIGRA TION A NDMONITORING


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ODNR DIVISION OF WILDLIFE I b u t t e r f l i e s & s k i p p e r s o f o h i o 1 0

In order to best use this booklet, understand-ing some simple butterfly anatomy will be help-ful. Butterflies and skippers belong to the in-sect order Lepidoptera. The word Lepidoptera

comes from two Greek words: lepis meaningscale and pteronmeaning wing. Butterflieshave two pairs of wings that are covered withthousands of very small and colorful scales. Thefront pair nearest the head is the forewings andthe back pair are the hindwings. Thecolor and pattern of wing scales isunique to a particular species, and isthe first key to identification of but-terflies. It is important to know the

names of the visual areas on eachwing (see the wing diagram). Thisinformation will help you navigateyour way through butterfly descrip-tions.

Butterflies and skippers havethree body regions: head, thorax,and abdomen. The two pairs ofwings and three pairs of legs are at-

tached to the thorax. The top of thewings are called the dorsal surfacesand the undersides of the wings arecalled the ventral surfaces. Butter-flies and skippers have many specialized sensoryorgans. One such organ, the antennae, is found

in a pair on the head. Antennae have severalsensory functions, one being the sense of smell.Butterflies have mainly clubbed or knobbed an-tennae and most skippers have antennae that

are hooked at the end in a structure knownas the apiculus. The difference in the shape ofantennae is one way to separate butterfliesfrom skippers. In addition skippers are usuallybrown, tan, or yellow-orange and have special-

ized wing structures that differ from butterflies(see wing diagram).

Moth or Butterfly? These two groups of Lepi-doptera can look similar and telling moths apart

from butterflies is sometimes confusing at first.In general, moths fly at night while butterflies arestrictly day-fliers. Butterflies have knobbed orclubbed tips to their antennae, while moths areeither thin and thread-like or feathery. Moths

have fat, fuzzy bodies, while butter-flies have sleeker, smooth bodies.Also, in general, moths are dull andplain-colored while most butterflies

are much more brightly colored incomparison. Finally, butterflies cre-ate a chrysalis; a specialized case inwhich the transformation from cat-erpillar to adult occurs. The chrysalisvaries in color, size, and shape, but isusually smooth to slightly texturedwith a hard shell. Moths create acocoon, which is soft, often silkyor hairy, and includes leaves that

are woven together and containsthe pupa. Some day-flying moths,of which there are relatively fewin Ohio, can be easily mistaken for

butterflies at first glance. However, a close lookwill reveal the differences mentioned above.

BA SIC BUTTERFLY A NA TOMY

The eight-spotted forester is a common, boldlymarked day-flying moth. Note its thread-like

antennae and plump, fuzzy body charactersthat help identify it as a moth.


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Ja Fb Mr Ap Ma Jn Ju Ag Sp Oc Nv Dcphotography l CATERPILLARDAVE PARSHALL; VENTRALDAVE PARSHALL;DORSALJO HN HO WA RD

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HABITAT: Typically found in forested areas.Virginia snakeroot is uncommon and local andthis may account for the butterflys scattereddistribution. South of Ohio, where plants in thepipevine family become far more common, sodoes the pipevine swallowtail.HOST PLANTS: Pipevine family (Aristolochia-ceae). In Ohio, there are only two natives in this

family, Virginia snakeroot (Aristolochia virginiana)and wild ginger (Asarum canadense). The butter-fly probably only uses the former.DISCUSSION: The pipevine swallowtail hasa very distinct ventral hindwing. The row of

submarginal red-orange spots on the ventralhindwings separates it from other Ohioswallowtails. The larvae of this species storetoxins from the host plants. Predators findthem distasteful and learn to avoid pipevineswallowtails. Females of this species are muchduller in color with more prominent whitesubmarginal dorsal spots. Other swallowtail

species whose females resemble the deepiridescent purple of the pipevine include darkfemale tigers, spicebush, and black. Theseswallowtails and a few other dark species arethought to gain protection because of their

close resemblance to the distasteful pipevineswallowtail. This protective form of imitationis called Batesian mimicry. Predators, suchas young birds, learn from adults to avoidthese mimic species. Pipevine swallowtailsare uncommon to rare north of Columbus.They seem to establish short lived coloniesin northern Ohio. This may be due to climatic

factors or scarcity of suitable host plants. Thisspecies, like most of our swallowtails, spendssunny days soaring in the upper canopy ofthe forest. Males will often seek salts at mudpuddles.

PIPEV INE SW A LLOW TA IL B a t t u s p h i l e n o r ( B a t - t u s f i l - e n - o r )

S W A L L O W T A I L F A M I L Y ( P a p i l i o n i d a e )

WINGSPAN:2.75 - 4

OCCURRENCE:


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Ja Fb Mr Ap Ma Jn Ju Ag Sp Oc Nv Dcphotography l CATERPILLARLESLIE ANGEL; VENTRALJI M MC CO RM AC ;DORSALBILL HULL

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HABITAT: The greatest numbers occur in richdeciduous woods and woodland borders thathave pawpaw as an abundant understory plant.

HOST PLANTS: Pawpaw (Asimina triloba), ashrub or small tree of rich woods, particularlyon stream terraces.

DISCUSSION: Our smallest swallowtail andamong Ohios showiest and most unmistakablebutterflies. It has the longest tails of any tailed

Ohio butterfly. Males patrol favored flight pathsduring the warmest part of the day lookingfor females and will often fly uphill to locate amate. This hill-topping behavior is favored bymany species of swallowtails. They sometimes

form puddle clubs on muddy soil along roadsthrough suitable woodlands and bottom lands.Several seasonal forms have been named. The

spring form is smaller, has shorter tails and iswhiter than late spring or summer forms, whichare blacker and have longer tails. Two or threebroods of zebra swallowtails are producedannually.

ZEBRA SW A LLOW TA IL E u r y t i d e s m a r c e l l u s ( Y e r - i h - t i h - d e e s m a r - s e l - u s )


WINGSPAN:2.5- 4

OCCURRENCE:


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Ja Fb Mr Ap Ma Jn Ju Ag Sp Oc Nv Dcphotography l CATERPILLARJO HN HO WAR D; VENTRALAL STAFFAN;DORSALAL STAFFAN

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HABITAT: A wide variety of open landscapes,ranging from gardens, old fields and pastures,woodland openings, and weedy roadsides.HOST PLANTS: A generalist on a variety ofspecies, both native and non-native, in the parsleyfamily (Apiaceae). Commonly used Ohio host

plants include Queen Annes lace (Daucus carota),wild parsnip (Pastinaca sativa) and garden herbslike fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) and dill (Anethum

graveolens).

DISCUSSION: A very common species, theblack swallowtail is a frequent garden visitor. Thisis in part because suitable host plants are oftengrown in gardens. Among swallowtails, only thespring form of zebra swallowtail is smaller, andthe combination of small size and dark overall

coloration with a prominent yellow band on theupper wing make male black swallowtails easy toseparate from other species. Females resemblepipevine swallowtails but arent as prominentlyblue on the hindwing and have a small yellowish

spot near the tip of the forewing. The caterpillars,if disturbed, shoot forth orange protuberancesfrom their head known as osmeteria, whichrelease a surprisingly foul odor. There are twobroods a year. The summer brood females have alarge blue area on the dorsal hindwing and fewer

yellow markings on the dorsal forewing. Thesmaller spring form of the female has more blueon the dorsal hindwing than the male, but alsohas the yellow markings on the forewing muchlike the male.

BLACK SW A LLOW TA IL P a p i l i o p o l y x e n e s ( P a - p i l - e e - o h p o l - i x - e e - n e e s )


WINGSPAN:2.5- 4.2

OCCURRENCE:


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Ja Fb Mr Ap Ma Jn Ju Ag Sp Oc Nv Dcphotography l CATERPILLARLARRY JEANBLANC; VENTRALDAVE PARSHALL;DORSALJI M MC CO RM AC

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HABITAT: Most often seen around dampwoodlands where the host plants occur. Foragesin openings, roadsides, and occasionally gardenswhere flowering plants are common. Giant

swallowtails are avid flower visitors.HOST PLANTS: Members of the citrus family(Rutaceae). There are only two species in Ohio,wafer-ash (Ptelea trifoliata) and prickly-ash(Zanthoxylum americanum). Neither species is

widely abundant and they tend to form localizedcolonies. Both plants are more frequent inwestern Ohio and so is this swallowtail.DISCUSSION: Although numbers are cyclical

from year to year, even in boom years this isOhios least common swallowtail. They areusually observed in close proximity to hostplant populations. Giant swallowtails aremammoth; our largest butterfly and one of

the biggest North American species. They areswift, powerful flyers and can quickly vanishto the tree canopy if disturbed. The caterpillarresembles a bird dropping. As a further

deterrent, if disturbed it extends a horn-likeappendage called an osmeterium that expelsa noxious odor and an irritating chemical. Awide-ranging species, occurring south into theCaribbean and into South America.

GIA NT SW A LLOW TA IL P a p i l i o c r e s p h o n t e s ( P a - p i l - e e - o h c r e s - f o n - t e e s )


WINGSPAN:4.5-5.5

OCCURRENCE:


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Ja Fb Mr Ap Ma Jn Ju Ag Sp Oc Nv Dcphotography l CATERPILLARJO HN HO WAR D; VENTRALDAVE LEWIS;DORSALTOM ARBOUR

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HABITAT:Peak numbers occur in larger tractsof forests, but wide-ranging and appears inparks, gardens, meadows and other habitats.HOST PLANTS:Uses a variety of woody plants,

including various ash (Fraxinus species), tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera), sassafras (Sassafrasalbidum), and black cherry (Prunus serotina).DISCUSSION:This striking and often abundantswallowtail can be expected anywhere in the

state. Males, with their tiger-like striping pattern,are unmistakable. In southern Ohio, up to halfof female tiger swallowtails are dark forms;dark females becomes progressively scarcer

northward. These black females mimic toxicpipevine swallowtails and look very similar tothat species. However, they usually retain tracesof the tiger-like stripes, and the underwingpattern differs. Tiger swallowtails often soar

high in woodland canopies. This is the mostcommon and wide-ranging Ohio swallowtail.They often alight to siphon mineral salts frommuddy soil in damp areas, and sometimes form

sizeable puddle clubs. Like most swallowtails,they are very strong fliers and often can be seensoaring high in woodland canopies, where theylay their eggs.

EA STERN TIGER SW A LLOW TA ILP a p i l i o g l a u c u s ( P a - p i l - e e - o h g l a w - k u s )


WINGSPAN:3.5- 5.5

OCCURRENCE:


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Ja Fb Mr Ap Ma Jn Ju Ag Sp Oc Nv Dcphotography l CATERPILLARLESLIE ANGEL; VENTRALJA RE T DA NI EL S;DORSALAL STAFFAN

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HABITAT: Most frequent within deciduousforests and in nearby openings; often visitsgardens, especially those near wooded areas.

HOST PLANTS: Members of the laurel family(Lauraceae), sassafras (Sassafras albidum) andspicebush (Lindera benzoin).DISCUSSION: Another apparent pipevineswallowtail mimic, this species is seemingly

avoided by predators due to close similaritywith the toxic pipevine. Females are markedwith splashes of brilliant blue on the dorsal

hindwings; in males this area is greenish.Spicebush swallowtails reach peak abundancein large forests of southern Ohio, where it canbe numerous. There are normally two broods,in spring and late summer. Because hatches of

each brood extend over several weeks, thisspecies can be found from early spring into latefall. The caterpillar is an exceptional example

of deceptive camouflage. It appears to have afearsome snake-like face, which presumably canfrighten off potential predators. The spicebushgets its name from one of the host plants of itslarvae, spicebush, a common woodland shrub.

SPICEBUSH SW A LLOW TAIL P a p i l i o t r o i l u s ( P a - p i l - e e - o h t r o y - l u s )


WINGSPAN:3.5- 5.5

OCCURRENCE:


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Ja Fb Mr Ap Ma Jn Ju Ag Sp Oc Nv Dcphotography l CATERPILLARJA RE T DA NI EL S; VENTRALAL STAFFAN;DORSALJI M MC CO RM AC

18

HABITAT:A generalist that can be found nearlyanywhere, except deep woods.

HOST PLANTS: A wide variety of plants in themustard family (Brassicaceae), including bothnative and non-native species such as cabbage,broccoli, brussel sprouts, mustards, and radish.DISCUSSION: This is our only established non-

native butterfly and is now the most commonspecies in the state. Cabbage whites were first

introduced in Quebec, Canada about 1860and subsequently spread throughout NorthAmerica. This species was first reported nearCleveland in 1873, and by 1882 it was abundantand widespread in Ohio. Cabbage whites fly

earlier and later in the season than our otherbutterflies and have regularly been seen in every

month except December, January, and February.The caterpillars occasionally become pests oncabbage. Cabbage whites are by far the mostfrequently encountered butterfly in urban andsuburban situations.

CA BBA GE W HITEP i e r i s r a p a e ( P y - e r - i s s r a p - e e )

S U L P H U R / W H I T E F A M I L Y ( P i e r i d a e )

WINGSPAN:1.5- 2

OCCURRENCE:


19/80

Ja Fb Mr Ap Ma Jn Ju Ag Sp Oc Nv Dcphotography l CATERPILLARLESLIE ANGEL; VENTRALJI M MC CO RM AC ;DORSALJI M MC CO RM AC

19

HABITAT:Primarily upland oak-hickory forests,although occasionally in wooded lowlands;rarely turns up far from wooded habitats. Agood way to find falcate orangetips is to lookfor sunny openings with blooming springflowers such as its host plants.HOST PLANTS: Exclusively mustards (Bras-

sicaceae family), normally native species likecut-leaved toothwort (Cardamine concatenata),bitter cresses (Cardamine species), and probablysmooth rock cress (Arabis laevigata).DISCUSSION:The falcate orangetip is named

for the sickle (falcate) shape of the outer tipof its forewing and the yellow/orange subapicalpatch on the dorsal forewing. This species isrestricted to deciduous woods of southernand eastern Ohio. It becomes progressivelyrarer northward. Falcate orangetips are oneof the first butterflies to emerge each spring,

along with spring azures. Males emerge firstfollowed by females a week or so later, as is thegeneral rule with butterflies. Males fly uphill tothe tops of hills and ridges in search of females.This hill-topping behavior increases the chances

of males pairing with females. Hill-topping isa common pratice for members of the whitefamily and some species of swallowtails. Falcateorangetips can be quite local in distribution,but locally common where found. Sometimesmales seek organic salts at mud puddles, wherethey can be closely studied. One of our most

delicate butterflies, falcate orangetips appearflimsy, as if made of tissue paper. The brightorange flashes of the males wing tips stands instark contrast to barren early spring leaf litterwhich they overfly, a sure sign of winters end.

FA LCA TE ORA NGETIP A n t h o c h a r i s m i d e a ( A n - t h o - k ar - i s s m i d - e e - a h )


WINGSPAN:1.25- 1.75

OCCURRENCE:


20/80

Ja Fb Mr Ap Ma Jn Ju Ag Sp Oc Nv Dcphotography l VENTRALTIM DANIEL;DORSALJI M MC CO RM AC

HABITAT:All manner of open spaces. Tremen-dous numbers sometimes congregate in mowedhayfields dominated by alfalfa and other cloversin fall. These two species should be among theeasiest to record on any butterfly expedition.HOST PLANTS: Non-native legumes (peafamily, Fabaceae), primarily red clover (Trifolium

pratense), white clover (T. repens), and alfalfa(Medicago sativa).DISCUSSION: The clouded sulphur and theclosely related orange sulphur are perhaps themost abundant native butterflies in Ohio. They

are treated together as they frequently hybridize(interbreed), and some individuals can be hardto identify to species. Both sulphurs frequentwide open spaces, shunning shaded habitats.They are seen nearly anywhere, includinggardens in very urban sites. Multiple broods areproduced, making these species a common sight

from early spring into late fall. Orange sulphursare extremely similar to cloudeds and are bestdifferentiated by their color. Generally, orangesulphurs are orange; clouded sulphurs areyellow. Some females of both species can be

nearly white in fall. The males of both specieshave narrow dark dorsal outerwing margins.The females have wider dark outerwing margins,which are broken up by a few yellow spots. Bothspecies hold their wings upright and pressedtogether when perched, so that the observercan usually only admire the underwings. The

larger fall forms of the orange sulphur aresome of the most beautiful butterflies found inOhio and are often associated with prairies andcultivated clover fields. Both species pass thewinter in the chrysalis stage.

CLOUDED SULPHUR C o l i a s p h i l o d i c e ( C o - l e e - a s f i l - o h - d y - s e e )

ORA NGE SULPHUR C o l i a s e u r y t h e m e ( C o - l e e - a s y e r - i t h - e e - m e)


WINGSPAN:1.6- 2.4

OCCURRENCE:

20


21/80

Ja Fb Mr Ap Ma Jn Ju Ag Sp Oc Nv Dcphotography l VENTRALJO HN PO GA CN IK ;DORSALJI M MC CO RM AC

21

HABITAT: Most often encountered aroundswamp margins, stream borders, moist thickets,and other sites that harbor suitable aphid hostplants.

HOST PLANTS: Caterpillars are predatory,feeding on woolly aphids (family Eriosomatidae).Aphid host plants include several species of alder(Alnus species), winterberry (Ilex verticillata), andAmerican beech (Fagus grandifolia).

DISCUSSION: There is no other small butterflyin Ohio that resembles the Harvester. Theventral wing surface has fine white markingsthat look much like bird droppings or water

droppings. Harvesters often perch on twigs andleaves with their wings closed. This species hasa very small proboscis that makes taking nectarfrom flowers difficult. They are better adaptedto take mineral salts from mud puddles and

animal scat such as bird droppings. Adults alsofeed on the honeydew excreted by aphids. Thelarvae of the harvester are unique in that theyare carnivorous and feed on woolly aphids. They

live amongst dense aphid colonies, normally onalders and beech, and are almost invisible whenfeeding. Harvester chrysalises are distinctive;they look like a monkeys face. In favorable years,harvesters may have multiple broods.

HARV ESTER F e n i s e c a t a r q u i n i u s ( F e n - i h - s e h - k a t a r - k i n - e e - u s )

G O S S A M E R - W I N G F A M I L Y ( L y c a e n i d a e )

WINGSPAN:1.1- 1.3

OCCURRENCE:

L h l


22/80

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22

A MERICA N COPPER L yc a e n a p h l a e a s ( L y - s e e n - a h f l e e - a s )


HABITAT:Old fields, disturbed areas, and roadsides.

HOST PLANTS:Sheep-sorrel (Rumex acetosella)and occasionally curly dock (R. crispus). Neitherspecies is native.DISCUSSION: This small, beautiful butterflywas named for the bright reddish-copper color

of its dorsal forewings. American coppers areseldom found in large numbers, and were more

common in the past than they currently are.This decline may be the result of increaseduse of herbicides on farm fields and loss ofpastureland due to changes in farming practices.Coppers spend a great deal of time nectaring

and seem to favor white flowers. The best placeto see them today is in the Oak Openings west

of Toledo. Colonies are uncommon and localover the rest of the state. Some authoritiesbelieve that American coppers in eastern NorthAmerica were introduced from Europe.

WINGSPAN:.9- 1.4

OCCURRENCE:

BRONZE COPPERL h l l ( L h h l )


23/80

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23

HABITAT: A variety of wet to moist habitatsincluding marshes, damp meadows, fens, well-vegetated roadside ditches, and mud-flats withsparse vegetation. It tends to occur in high-quality

wetlands with a good diversity of native flora.HOST PLANTS: Probably utilizes a variety ofdocks and smartweeds (family Polygonaceae).Has been documented using great water dock(Rumex orbiculatus).

DISCUSSION: Bronze coppers have verydistinctive underwings that separate them fromall other Ohio butterflies. Males have bronze-colored dorsal forewings and females have

orange dorsal forewings with black spots. Thisspecies is not as common in Ohio as it oncewas due to the loss of 90% of Ohios originalwetlands. Modern agricultural practices havefurther reduced the quality of available habitat.

Colonies tend to be quite localized, and adultbutterflies typically remain in close proximity tothe host plants. A good spot to look for bronzecoppers is in the wet roadside meadows near the

Black Swamp Bird Observatory headquartersat the entrance to Magee Marsh Wildlife Area.This species has two broods a year.

BRONZE COPPER L y c a e n a h y l l u s ( L y - s e e n - a h h y - l u s )


WINGSPAN:1.25- 1.65

OCCURRENCE:

CORA L HAIRSTREA KS a t y r i u m t i t u s ( S h t t t )


24/80

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24

HABITAT:Overgrown clearings, fields, woodlandborders, weedy roadsides, and meadows.HOST PLANTS:Woody plants in the rose family(Rosaceae), including black cherry (Prunus

serotina) and American plum (Prunus americana).DISCUSSION:The coral hairstreak is our onlyhairstreak that lacks thread-like tails at thebase of the hindwing, other than the very rarely

seen early hairstreak (Erora laeta). Genetically,it is closely related to the banded hairstreak.It is not as restricted to forested areas as areour other hairstreaks. This butterfly is often

seen nectaring on flowers of butterfly-weed(Asclepias tuberosa) with Edwards and bandedhairstreaks. They nectar with their wingsclosed vertically, as do other hairstreaks. The

brownish-gray underwings conspicuouslybordered with reddish-orange dots make thisspecies our most easily identifiable hairstreak.Coral hairstreaks have a penchant for perching

on the tips of shrubs and other plants, anddarting out to investigate passing butterflies orother insects. There is one brood a year, withpeak numbers in mid-summer.

CORA L HAIRSTREA K S a t y r i u m t i t u s ( S a h - t e e r - e e - u m t y - t u s )


WINGSPAN:.9- 1.25

OCCURRENCE:

EDW A RDS HA IRSTREA KS a t y r i u m e d w a r d s i i ( S a h t e e r e e u m e d w a r d s e e e y e )


25/80

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25

HABITAT:Prairie barrens, red cedar glades, andwoodland openings dotted with scrubby youngoaks, always where conspicuous earthen nestsof Allegheny mound ants (Formica exsectoides)are present. This species is most common in the

Blue Grass region of Adams County.HOST PLANTS: Young oaks, principally blackoak (Quercus velutina), but probably post oak (Q.stellata) and other species.DISCUSSION: This species is rare and local, but

is included here because of its fascinatinglife history. Edwards hairstreaks aremyrmecophilous, meaning that they have anintimate association with ants. Allegheny moundants, which construct large conical nests of

barren earth, tend the hairstreak larvae insidetheir mounds. The ants milk the caterpillars bystroking them with their antennae to stimulatefavored secretions which the ants consume. Inreturn, a phalanx of guard ants protects the

vulnerable larvae from parasitic wasps whenthey ascend nearby oaks to feed. Keying inon open habitats containing conspicuous antmounds along with scattered scrubby oaks mayproduce new populations of Edwards hairstreak.

Colonies can have hundreds of adults duringtheir flight season, but are intensely local andeasily overlooked. New colonies of this butterflyshould be reported to The Ohio Lepidopteristsor the Ohio Division of Wildlife.

EDW A RDS HA IRSTREA K S a t y r i u m e d w a r d s i i ( S a h - t e e r - e e - u m e d - w a r d - s e e - e y e )


WINGSPAN:1- 1.25

OCCURRENCE:

BA NDED HAIRSTREA KS a t y r i u m c a l a n u s ( S a h - t e e r - e e - u m c a l - a h - n u s )


26/80

Ja Fb Mr Ap Ma Jn Ju Ag Sp Oc Nv Dcphotography l VENTRALLARRY JEANBLANC;DORSALJI M MC CO RM AC

26

HABITAT: In and around oak-hickory woodlands.The banded hairstreak is most often seen inclearings and along wooded edges nectaringat flowers. Sometimes enters gardens nearappropriate habitat.HOST PLANTS: Primarily oaks (family Faga-ceae), especially white oak (Quercus alba). Also

uses hickories (Caryaspecies) and black wal-nut (Juglans nigra).DISCUSSION: The banded hairstreak is ourmost common hairstreak. Hairstreaks get their

name from hair-like tails that extend from theirhindwings. An eye spot of red or blue usuallyaccompanies the tails. Hairstreaks constantlyrub their hindwings together when at rest. Thismotion, aided by the bluish or red eyespot andantenna-like tails at the hindwing, create theillusion of a butterfly head replete with twitching

antennae. This forms a visual attractant forpredators, luring them to the wrong end. Thepredator grabs this area and gets nothing buta mouth full of membrane and scales. Banded

hairstreaks, like many of our hairstreaks, spendmost of their adult life high in the tops of largetrees. They typically come down to nectarfor an hour or two early in the morning andagain in the late afternoon. Their favored nectarsource is Indian-hemp (Apocynum cannabinum).The banded hairstreak undergoes occasional

localized population explosions, and thousandsof individual adults can be found. The followingsummer, only a few adults may be found in thesame area. This species is single brooded.

BA NDED HA IRSTREA K S a t y r i u m c a l a n u s ( S a h - t e e r - e e - u m c a l - a h - n u s )


WINGSPAN:1- 1.25

OCCURRENCE:

HENRY S ELFINC a l l o p h r y s h e n r i c i ( C a l - o h - f r e e s h e n - r e e - s e e )


27/80

Ja Fb Mr Ap Ma Jn Ju Ag Sp Oc Nv Dcphotography l CATERPILLARJA RE T DA NI EL S; VENTRALDAVE PARSHALL;DORSALJI M MC CO RM AC

27

HABITAT: Forest edges, forest roads, andquarries where redbud proliferates.HOST PLANTS: In Ohio, only documentedon redbud (Cercis canadensis). Maple-leavedviburnum (Viburnum acerifolium), huckleberry(Gaylussacia baccata), and various blueberries(Vaccinium species) are used elsewhere and

might be in Ohio, too.DISCUSSION: The nickel-sized Henrys elfinis always found in forests with redbud trees.While this elfin is mainly restricted to localizedhabitats in southern Ohio, a disjunct population

was recently found in northern Ohio in anold quarry which is part of the Erie CountyPark system. Additional sites may turn up, andHenrys elfin should be watched for whereverredbuds are found. At Tranquility Wildlife Areain Adams County more than four hundred adultswere counted on one stretch of road. However,

numbers vary greatly from year to year. Elfinsoften can be found by shaking a redbud andlooking to see if they fly off. Males often perchon the branches and foliage of shrubs, grasses,

and other plants, and on gravel roads, waitingfor females. Males will visit mud for mineralsalts. When disturbed, Henrys elfin flies up intothe air in a jerky spiral flight, and returns to itsoriginal perch. This behavior is common amongelfins and hairstreaks. Redbud blossoms andother spring flowers are the preferred nectar

sources. Eggs are laid on the branches near theflower of the redbud or directly on the buds.Henrys elfin is single-brooded and passes thewinter in the chrysalis stage.

HENRY S ELFIN C a l l o p h r y s h e n r i c i ( C a l o h f r e e s h e n r e e s e e )


WINGSPAN:.9- 1.2

OCCURRENCE:

GRA Y HA IRSTREA KS t r y m o n m e l i n u s ( S t r y - m o n m e l - i n - u s )


28/80

Ja Fb Mr Ap Ma Jn Ju Ag Sp Oc Nv Dcphotography l VENTRALBILL HULL;DORSALJI M MC CO RM AC

28

HABITAT: All manner of sites, includingroadsides, gardens, forest edges, old fields,powerline right-of-ways, and prairies.HOST PLANTS:Uses a wide variety; species inover 20 families have been documented as hosts.

In Ohio, it has mostly been found on membersof the pea family (Fabaceae), including everlastingpea (Lathyrus latifolius), wild senna (Sennahebecarpa), and bush clovers (genus Lespedeza)as well as various mallows (Malvaceae family).

DISCUSSION: Gray hairstreaks are akinto cedar waxwings in the bird world: suaveand dapper-looking. Their smooth dove-grayunderwings set off by a bright orange spotcreate a striking effect. Some years this species

is absent or scarce. It is most common duringlate summer and fall, especially in southernOhio. The red eye spots above the tails on the

dorsal wing surfaces and its overall gray colorseparate this hairstreak from other hairstreakspecies. Other hairstreaks bask with wingsclosed; gray hairstreaks often hold them openat rest. This is the widest-ranging hairstreak in

North America. It can produce several broodsin Ohio. The first brood is noticeably smallerand darker than later broods.

GRA Y HA IRSTREA K S t r y m o n m e l i n u s ( S t r y m o n m e l i n u s )


WINGSPAN:1- 1.5

EA STERN TA ILED-BLUE C u p i d o c o m y n t a s ( C u e - p i h - d o h c o - m i n - t a h s )


29/80


HABITAT:Found in practically all open habitats,only shunning deep shaded woods.

HOST PLANTS:A wide variety of species in thepea family (Fabaceae).DISCUSSION: The eastern tailed-blue is ourmost common blue butterfly. It can be foundalmost anywhere during the growing season.

While they have tail-like projections from theirhindwings, eastern tailed-blues are not true

hairstreaks. Males have light blue dorsal wingsurfaces, and females have deep rich charcoalcolored dorsal wing surfaces. The easterntailed-blue has three or more generations a

season and can be found on the wing from Aprilto October. It is common in gardens and urban

areas. Eastern tailed-blues often bask with theirwings outstretched horizontally, unlike azures,which hold their wings pressed together overtheir back.

EA STERN TA ILED-BLUEp y ( p )


WINGSPAN:.75- 1

OCCURRENCE:

SPRING A ZURE C e l a s t r i n a l a d o n ( S e l - a h - s t r e e - n a h l a y - d o n )


30/80

Ja Fb Mr Ap Ma Jn Ju Ag Sp Oc Nv Dcphotography l CATERPILLARLESLIE ANGEL; VENTRALBILL HEBAN;DORSALJI M MC CO RM AC

HABITAT:In and around woodlands and nearbyopenings; frequently seen along muddy trailsand roads bisecting forests.HOST PLANTS: Spring azures use floweringdogwood (Cornus florida) and possibly otherdogwoods; black cherry (Prunus serotina) and avariety of other woody plants; summer azures

use wingstem (Verbesina alternifolia).DISCUSSION: These species are extremelysimilar and until recently were considered tobe different forms of the same species. Bothare very common in Ohio and sometimes form

huge puddle clubs at favored muddy spots. Thespring azure is one of the first non-hibernatingbutterfl ies to appear each spring. Occasionally,it can be found near the Ohio River as earlyas mid-March. The range of these species inOhio is unclear due to possible confusion withnewly discovered sibling (similar) species. The

spring azure is more violet-blue on its dorsalsurfaces than the summer azure, and hasgrayer ventral wing surfaces with duller blackspots. The summer azure has white ventral

and bright blue wing surfaces. The females ofthe summer azure often have a great amountof white on the dorsal wing surfaces and havewider darker dorsal wing margins than males ofeither species. The larvae of the spring azurefavor wild dogwood and black cherry and thesummer azure seem to favor wingstem as hosts.

Spring azures are single brooded and fly only inearly spring while summer azures have severalbroods with strong flights in May/June andAugust/September.

SPRING A ZURE

SUMMER AZURE C e l a s t r i n a n e g l e c t a ( S e l - a h - s t r e e - n a h n e - g l e k - t a h)


WINGSPAN:.75- 1.25

OCCURRENCE:

30

NORTHERN META LMA RK C a l e p h e l i s b o r e a l i s ( c a l - e h - f e l - i s s b o r - e e - a l - i s s )


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31

HABITAT: Edges of dry woodlands andassociated dry open meadows. Where its hostplant and favored nectar plant, black-eyed susan(Rudbeckia hirta) occur in close proximity aregood places to look.HOST PLANT:Round-leaved ragwort (Packera

obovata). May use other closely related species,such as prairie ragwort (P. plattensis).DISCUSSION:The northern metalmark is rareto uncommon in Ohio. Its common name comesfrom the medial and submarginal bands of

metallic-silver marks on both dorsal and ventralwing surfaces.This species is found in Ohio wherethe bedrock is limestone or dolomite. CentralOhio and the bluegrass physiographic regionof southern Ohio support several colonies ofthis butterfly. Northern metalmarks are always

found in close association with its larval hostplant. The butterflies prefer shaded woodedges, semi-shaded woodland trails, and areasnear wooded stream banks. They can be foundnectaring on black-eyed susan (Rudbeckia hirta)

or butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) in adjacentfields. Adults often rest with their wings heldhorizontally while they are at flowers. On hotdays they can be found underneath flowers inthe shade with their wings folded and nectaringfrom this protective position. Metalmarks often

perch in this manner when disturbed. They havea low, delicate flight pattern, making them easyto overlook or confuse with a dark moth.

NORTHERN META LMA RKG O S S A M E R - W I N G F A M I L Y ( L y c a e n i d a e )

WINGSPAN:.9- 1.2

OCCURRENCE:

A MERICA N SNOUT L i b y t h e a n a c a r i n e n t a ( L i h - b i t h - e e - a y - n a h c a r - i n - e n - t a h)


32/80

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32

HABITAT:A variety of woodlands, usually alongstreams and lower slopes. Largely confined tothe limestone bedrock regions of Ohio, as that

is where its host plants are most frequent.HOST PLANTS: Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)and possibly dwarf hackberry (Celtis tenuifolia).DISCUSSION:The American snout is the onlybutterfly species originally described from Ohio.

The early Cleveland naturalist, Jared P. Kirtland,described it in 1852 from a Mahoning Countycollection. Some authorities believe that the

American snout migrates to Ohio each summerand is not a breeding resident. The fact that itis absent from Ohio in some years and at lowpopulation numbers in other years would seemto support this theory. However, it most likely

does reproduce at least locally in the state, butonly survives mild winters. One of the largestconcentrations of snouts ever recorded in

Ohio was on Kellys Island during the summerof 1999 when several hundred were observed.American snouts are aptly named. Their longpalpi (snout) is distinctive and makes confusionwith other species unlikely.

A MERICA N SNOUTB R U S H F O O T F A M I L Y ( N y m p h a l i d a e )

WINGSPAN:1.6- 1.9

OCCURRENCE:

GREA T SPA NGLED FRITILLA RY S p e y e r i a c y b e l e ( S p a y - e r - e e - a h s i b - e l - e e )


33/80

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33

HABITAT: Open woodlands and nearby openareas such as meadows, roadsides, powerlineclearings, and gardens. Sometimes roams farfrom woods in search of flowers.HOST PLANTS: Violets (genus Viola), probably

many of the twenty-six native species knownin Ohio.DISCUSSION:This is a large butterfly with astrong flight. Fortunately, they frequently stop at

flowers, especially milkweeds, so that observerscan admire them. Several adults can often befound together on a single flower head. Malesoften gather at mud puddles and animal scat,taking in mineral salts and proteins. Females are

larger and darker than males, and do not appearuntil later in the summer when many males arealready flight worn. Fritillaries employ a ratherhaphazard reproductive strategy. Females lay

eggs near host plants violets but often noton the plants. Newly hatched larvae overwinterwithout feeding. In spring, they must make theirway to the hosts, upon which they only feed atnight. This strategy probably increases mortality

and may account for declines in a number offritillary species. For instance, the regal fritillaryis listed as endangered in Ohio and has notbeen seen in the state since 1988.

GREA T SPA NGLED FRITILLA RYB R U S H F O O T F A M I L Y ( N y m p h a l i d a e )

WINGSPAN:2.9- 3.8

OCCURRENCE:

A PHRODITE FRITILLA RY S p e y e r i a a p h r o d i t e ( S p a y - e r - e e - a h a f - r o - d y - t e e )


34/80

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34

HABITAT: Similar to the great spangled fritillary:open woodlands and nearby open areas suchas meadows, roadsides, powerline clearings, andgardens.HOST PLANTS: Violets (genus Viola), probablymany of the twenty-six native species knownin Ohio.DISCUSSION:

The Aphrodite fritillary isfrequently confused with the great spangledfritillary. They often fly together, increasing thelikelihood of confusion. This species can easilybe separated from the great spangled fritillary

by two field marks. The Aphrodite has a singleblack basal spot in the cell near the innermargin. The dorsal hindwing ground color isa rich reddish-brown color that overtakes thesubmarginal row of large silver spots. The tan orbuff submarginal band found in the great spangledis almost or entirely gone in the Aphrodite.

Females of both species are larger and darkerthan males. The aphrodite fritillary is found inmost of eastern Ohio and the Oak Openingsregion in northwest Ohio. Aphrodites are rareor absent from much of western Ohio. The

best places to look for this butterfly are forestsand fields in the Appalachian plateau region ofsouthern Ohio. They are strong fliers, but oftenvisit flowers where they can be closely admired.Females lay eggs near violets in late summer,and the larvae must then navigate to the hostplant. This imprecise method of reproduction

may account for the great seasonal fluctuationin numbers. The larvae feed at night. There isone brood, with males emerging in June, weeksbefore females emerge in late July.

A PHRODITE FRITILLA RYB R U S H F O O T F A M I L Y ( N y m p h a l i d a e )

WINGSPAN:2.7- 3.3

OCCURRENCE:

MEA DOW FRITILLA RY B o l o r i a b e l l o n a ( B o - l o r - e e - a h b e l - o h - n a h )


35/80

Ja Fb Mr Ap Ma Jn Ju Ag Sp Oc Nv Dcphotography l VENTRALAL STAFFAN;DORSALAL STAFFAN

35

HABITAT:Usually in wet to mesic (moist) opensites: damp fields, wet meadows, often withmany sedges, low-lying pastures, open streammargins, fens and prairies.HOST PLANTS:

Violets (genus Viola), probablymany of the twenty-six native species known inOhio, especially those that occur in more openhabitats.

DISCUSSION: Meadow fritillaries are muchsmaller than the other two fritillaries in thisbooklet and are sometimes referred to aslesser fritillaries. Larger species in the genus

Speyeriaare referred to as greater fritillaries.This fairly common species can occasionally befound in large numbers at favored sites. Moretypically, they are found in scattered smallcolonies. Because this species is tolerant of

disturbed habitats and has two and sometimesthree broods, it has not suffered declines tothe degree that closely related less tolerantspecies have, such as silver-bordered fritillary

(threatened in Ohio). Nonetheless, this speciesseems to be losing ground in Ohio. Peaknumbers occur in summer and fall and malesand females look identical. Meadow fritillariespass the winter in the larval stage.

MEA DOW FRITILLA RYB R U S H F O O T F A M I L Y ( N y m p h a l i d a e )

WINGSPAN:1.25- 1.9

OCCURRENCE:

SILV ERY CHECKERSPOT C h l o s y n e n y c t e i s ( K l o - s y - n e e n i k - t e e - i s s )


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HABITAT: Margins and openings adjacent tomesic (moist) forests and streamside woodland

trails.HOST PLANTS: Primarily wingstem (Verbesinaalternifolia); also sneezeweed (Helenium autum-nale). Probably a few other species in the sun-flower family.

DISCUSSION:The silvery checkerspot can beeasily separated from other checkerspots by the

distinctive dark pattern of silver/white spots onits ventral hindwings. This checkerspot is mostfrequent in southern Ohio, and can be abundantin some years. They are notorious cyclical andmay be nearly absent in sites where they were

common the prior year. Population explosionshave been recorded in Champaign and Vinton

counties. Males visit wet soil and animal remainsand both sexes visit flowers for nectar. Therecan be considerable size variation, with somefemales nearly double the size of males. Thisbutterfly passes the winter in the larval stage.

SILV ERY CHECKERSPOTB R U S H F O O T F A M I L Y ( N y m p h a l i d a e )

WINGSPAN:1.4- 2

OCCURRENCE:

PEA RL CRESCENT P h y c i o d e s t h a r o s ( F y - s e e - o h - d e e s t h a r - o h s )


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HABITAT: All manner of open habitats andcan turn up nearly anywhere; shuns only theshadiest habitats.HOST PLANTS:

Asters, probably several species.Pearl crescents are thought to use the Aster

subgenus Euaster in particular, which includestwenty-two of Ohios thirty-five aster species,many of which are abundant.

DISCUSSION: Almost as common as thecabbage white, pearl crescents should berecorded on any field outing in season. Females

are larger than males and are darker withwhite markings on their dorsal forewings. Likesome other butterfly species, males are veryaggressive, darting out to investigate otherbutterflies even other types of insects! They

have a fast erratic flight, and often perch onthe ground with wings outstretched. Pearlcrescents are particularly frequent in old fields

with an abundance of asters. They have three tofour broods. Thus, this species is on the wingand common spring to fall, with peak numbersin the fall. Pearl crescents pass the winter in thelarval stage.

C SCB R U S H F O O T F A M I L Y ( N y m p h a l i d a e )

WINGSPAN:1.25- 1.6

OCCURRENCE:

BA LTIMORE CHECKERSPOT E u p h y d r y a s p h a e t o n ( U - f e e - d r y - a s f a y - t o n )


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HABITAT: High quality wetlands and riparianterraces that support populations of the hostplant.HOST PLANTS:Turtlehead (Chelone glabra) isthe primary species that females lay eggs on.

This beautiful member of the figwort familyis somewhat local and scattered, typicallyoccurring in relatively undisturbed habitats.Older wandering larvae can later be found onother plant species.

DISCUSSION:This is one of Ohios true wetlandbutterflies, and one of the most beautiful of anyspecies. Baltimore checkerspots are particularlyattracted to swamp milkweed nectar. Coloniesof this butterfly are quite localized, but large

numbers are usually present where found.Eggs are laid in a mass on leaves and stems ofthe larval host. Larvae begin life feeding enmasse in a silken, bagworm-like nest. Eventually,

mature larvae leave the nest and feed solitarilyon a variety of plant species such as woodbetony (Pedicularis canadensis), English plantain(Plantago lanceolata), and others. Baltimorecheckerspot larvae overwinter in the leaf litter

in a hibernation-like phase. There is one brooda year. Populations have undoubtedly declinedsignificantly over the last decade due to the lossof suitable wetland habitats.

B R U S H F O O T F A M I L Y ( N y m p h a l i d a e )

WINGSPAN:1.75- 2.5

OCCURRENCE:

QUESTION MA RK P o l y g o n i a i n t e r r o g a t i o n i s ( P o l - i h - g o - n e e - a h i n - t e r - o h - g a t - e e - o h - n i s )


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HABITAT: A woodland species occurring inall manner of forested habitat and sometimesranging into more open habitats if suitablenectar plants are available.HOST PLANTS:American elm (Ulmus americana)

and red elm (U. rubra); also reported using theintroduced Siberian elm (U. pumila), hackberry(Celtis occidentalis), stinging nettle (Urtica procera)and false nettle (Boehmeria cylindrica).DISCUSSION: This butterfly gets its name

from the silver markings on the center of eachventral hindwing which look like a questionmark. There is a summer form with the dorsalhindwings a dark brown; this is form umbrosa.The dorsal forewings of the question mark

have one more black mark than the commabutterfly. Question marks often rest with theirwings closed vertically. This gives the butterflythe appearance of a dried leaf. The fall adultshibernate over the winter months in hollow

logs and in earthen crevices. Hibernators suchas the question mark, comma, and mourningcloak are some of longest-lived butterflies inOhio, surviving as long as eight months. Thesespecies, including the question mark, often

become active on warm, sunny winter or earlyspring days. The males are attracted to mudpuddles, tree sap, rotten fruit, animal scat, andcarrion. There are two broods a year.

QB R U S H F O O T F A M I L Y ( N y m p h a l i d a e )

WINGSPAN:2.25- 3

OCCURRENCE:

EA STERN COMMA P o l y g o n i a c o m m a ( P o l - i h - g o - n e e - a h c o m - a h )

B R U S H F O O T F A M I L Y ( N h l i d )


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HABITAT: A woodland species occurring inall manner of forested habitat and sometimesranging into more open habitats if suitablenectar plants are available.HOST PLANTS:Several species of nettle (family

Urticaceae), elms (family Ulmaceae), and hops(Humulus lupulus).DISCUSSION: Similar to the question mark,but smaller, has only three black marks in a rowon the upper forewing, and the silver mark on

the lower hindwing is comma-shaped. There isa summer form of the eastern comma with thedorsal hindwings a dark brown color. The falladults hibernate in hollow logs and in earthencrevices over the winter months. They can be

seen during warm sunny days in winter andearly spring basking on fallen logs and flyingaround clearings in woods. The eastern commais fond of mud puddles and animal scat, andlike the question mark, only occasionally visits

flowers. When at rest, it holds its wings closedvertically, giving it the appearance of a dead leafor tree bark. This butterfly is a strong erraticflier and can be hard to approach. Seeminglyaggressive, the males often launch at passing

butterflies, dragonflies, or other large insects sometimes even birds and people. They areprobably investigating for potential mates. Theeastern comma is found throughout forestedOhio and has two broods a year.


WINGSPAN:2- 2.4

OCCURRENCE:

MOURNING CLOA K N y m p h a l i s a n t i o p a ( N i m - f a l - i s s a n - t e e - o h - p a )



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HABITAT: Woods, forested stream and rivercorridors, borders of marshes, and wetlands.HOST PLANTS: Black willow (Salix nigra),Siberian elm (Ulmus pumila), and American

elm (U. americana). May also use cottonwood(Populus deltoides).DISCUSSION: This stunning insect has oneof the broadest distributions of any butterfly,ranging through North America, as well as

continental Europe, Eastern Siberia, and Japan.Adults are hibernators, wintering in treecrevices and other sheltered spots. It can be ashock to see one flying about on a warm sunny

winter day, as they sometimes do. Mourningcloaks do not usually visit flowers; rather, theyfeed at decomposing fruit or animal scat. Theyare normally seen as lone individuals, but duringfavorable years may occur in greater numbers.

Some evidence suggests that mourning cloaksmay seek shelter and aestivate (type of summerhibernation) during the hottest months ofsummer. Admiring their beauty can be a

challenge mourning cloaks are often wary andhard to approach. Mourning cloaks are single-brooded, and may live for ten months, as theyspend much time aestivating in summer andhibernating in winter.


WINGSPAN:3- 4

OCCURRENCE:

RED A DMIRA L V a n e s s a a t a l a n t a ( V a n - e s s - a h a t - a h - l a n - t a h )



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HABITAT: Typically in and around forestedareas, especially those that support host plantpopulations, but often ranges widely into fields,gardens, and other open landscapes.HOST PLANTS: Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica),wood nettle (Laportea canadensis), and pellitory(Parietaria pensylvanica).DISCUSSION: The red admiral is a commonOhio butterfly, but can have boom and bust

years. In 2007, this butterfly was seeminglyeverywhere, a once in a century event. Redadmirals can be common in urban settings andgardens. It frequents many species of flowersand often visits mud puddles and animal scat.When perched with wings outspread, redadmirals are rather gaudy and conspicuous. Atrest on tree trunks, with head downward andwings closed, admirals greatly resemble bark

or dead leaves. Making rotten fruit bait stationsis a great way to lure this species and otherbrushfooted butterflies to your yard. The redadmiral is a fast and erratic flier and can be hardto approach for photographing. Red admiralswere once thought to be migrants to Ohio, butrecent evidence suggests that they can survivemilder Ohio winters.


WINGSPAN:1.75- 2.5

OCCURRENCE:

AMERICAN LADY V a n e s s a v i r g i n i e n s i s ( V a n - e s s - a h v e r - j in - e e - i n - s i s )



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HABITAT:All manner of open habitats, includingmeadows, prairies, overgrown fields, roadsides,hayfields, and gardens.HOST PLANTS:Plantain-leaved pussy-toes (Anten-naria plantaginifolia), fragrant cudweed (Gnaphali-um obtusifolium), and burdock (Arctium species).DISCUSSION:The ornate inscriptions on theunderwing surfaces of this common butterfly

are quite striking, as if an abstract artist usedthe wings as a canvas. It was once known asthe American beauty, an apropos name. Thisbutterfly is first seen on the wing in earlyspring, but is more common in June. The twolarge eyespots on the ventral hindwings makeseparation from the painted lady (V. cardui)

simple. The latter has four small eyespots andis an occasional to common immigrant to Ohio.This somewhat wary species is best approachedwhen nectaring at favored flowers, like Indian-hemp (Apocynum cannabinum) and variousmilkweeds (Asclepias species). There are two orthree broods a year.


WINGSPAN:1.75- 2.4

OCCURRENCE:

COMMON BUCKEYE J u n o n i a c o e n i a ( J o o - n o - n e e - a h s e e - n e e - a h )



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HABITAT:Open areas of all kinds, but especiallyattracted to sites with very low vegetation, oftenwith barren areas of soil.HOST PLANTS:A wide array of hosts, includingplants in the figwort family (Scrophulariaceae),plantain family (Plantaginaceae), vervain family(Verbenaceae), and acanthus family (Acanthaceae).DISCUSSION: The common buckeye is animmigrant to Ohio, not a permanent resident. It

first appears in late summer in southern Ohio,spreading northward by fall, and can be abundant.However, some years it is rare or nearly absentfrom the state. A subspecies of the commonbuckeye from the southern U.S. is famousfor large-scale migrations. In Ohio, observersoften report the common buckeyes progressnorthward, but a large migration of hundredsof adults does not occur. This species is found

at mud puddles, rotten fruit, carrion, animal scat,and in barren fields. They often bask, sitting onsoil and low vegetation. It is thought that thelarge, showy eyespots on the wings may drawthe focus of potential predators, allowing thebutterfly to escape, albeit with tattered wings.Common buckeyes will produce several broodsonce they reach Ohio.


WINGSPAN:1.5- 2.7

OCCURRENCE:

RED-SPOTTED PURPLE L i m e n i t i s a r t h e m i s ( L e - m e n - e e - t i s a r - t h e e - m i s )



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HABITAT:A wide variety of forested habitats,sometimes ranging into parks, gardens, andother open to semi-open habitats.HOST PLANTS: Black cherry (Prunus serotina),poplars and aspen (Populus species).DISCUSSION: Tropical in appearance, thered-spotted purple ranks high among NorthAmericas showiest butterflies. They are most

common in extensive forested areas, and canbe found in large numbers along forest roadsin southern Ohio in spring. This species can beconfused with females of several of our darkswallowtail butterflies because of the brilliantblue on the dorsal hindwings, but red-spottedpurples lack eyespots and tails. It is thoughtthat red-spotteds are Batesian mimics. They

imitate the appearance of poisonous pipevineswallowtails to discourage potential predators.Fond of animal scat and rotten fruit, largenumbers sometimes congregate at such foodsources. The red-spotted purple has twobroods each year and passes the winter in thelarval stage.

( y p )

WINGSPAN:3- 4

OCCURRENCE:

V ICEROY L i m e n i t i s a r c h i p p u s ( L e - m e n - e e - t i s a r - k i p - u s )



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Ja Fb Mr Ap Ma Jn Ju Ag Sp Oc Nv Dcphotography l CATERPILLARCHERYL HARNER; VENTRALDAVE PARSHALL;DORSALDAVE PARSHALL

HABITAT: Most often seen around wetlandsand moist habitats with cottonwoods andwillows, but can occasionally appear in nearlyany open habitat.HOST PLANTS:Cottonwood (Populus deltoides),pussy willow (Salix discolor), black willow (S.nigra) and sandbar willow (S. interior).DISCUSSION: The viceroy butterfly is oftenconfused with the monarch. However, it caneasily be separated from that species by the

presence of a narrow black curved bar acrossthe middle of the dorsal hindwing. They arealso smaller than monarchs and have a morerapid, less buoyant flight, holding their wingsflat when gliding rather then the v-shaped glideof the monarch. Viceroys are usually foundclose to stands of willow, the most frequentlarval host plant. It was widely believed thatthe viceroy was a classic Batesian mimic of

the toxic monarch, and predators wouldconsequently avoid this species. We now knowthat viceroys are distasteful in their own right,and unpalatable to eat. Birds quickly learnto avoid both of these species. The homelylooking caterpillars resemble bird droppingsand are the only bird scat mimic caterpillarsthat have horns. There are two broods a yearand viceroys overwinter in the larval stage.

WINGSPAN:2.6-3.2

OCCURRENCE:

HA CKBERRY EMPEROR A s t e r o c a m p a c e l t i s ( A s - t e r- o h - c a m p - a h s e l - t i s s )



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HABITAT: Wherever hackberry trees occur,which includes stream bottom forests, mesicto dry woodlands, parks, overgrown fields, andeven residential areas.HOST PLANTS:Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis).DISCUSSION: Very active and pugnacious,hackberry emperors are noted for dashing outto investigate people, often alighting on them.

They are drawn to white colors, and are fondof landing on white shirts and even the sides ofbuildings that are painted white. Although notbrightly colored, the hackberry has one of themost beautiful patterns of any of our butterflies,including noticeable white antennae clubs. Theyare attracted to mud puddles, animal scat, rottenfruit, human perspiration, road tar, and even oil

drippings from your car. Hackberry emperorsare seldom found away from areas where theirlarval host tree occurs. When found, they areusually plentiful. Interestingly, these butterfliesoften become more active towards dusk andhave even been caught at light sources afterdark. The hackberry has two broods eachseason and overwinters in the larval stage.

WINGSPAN:2- 2.6

OCCURRENCE:

TA W NY EMPEROR A s t e r o c a m p a c l y t o n ( A s - t e r - o h - c a m p - a h c l y - t o n )



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HABITAT: Forested areas and associatedopenings, where hackberry trees occur.HOST PLANTS:Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)DISCUSSION: The tawny emperor is easilyconfused with the hackberry emperor. It can beseparated from the hackberry by the distinctivepattern on the emperors ventral hindwingand the lack of dark brown eyespots on the

medial outer margin of the dorsal forewings.Tawny emperors, like hackberry emperors,are always associated with hackberry trees.The two species often fly together. However,the tawny has only a single brood and mostindividuals found after mid-July are flight worn.This butterfly is most common in mid-June tomid-July. Most records are from the western

part of the state and the species appears tobe most common in the southwestern partof Ohio. Like hackberries, tawny emperorsare pugnacious, often investigating people andsometimes alighting on them. Tawny emperorsoften visit oozing tree sap and mudpuddles, andcan be attracted to rotten fruit bait stations. Thisspecies passes the winter in the larval stage.

WINGSPAN:2- 2.75

OCCURRENCE:

MONARCHD a n a u s p l e x i p p u s ( D a n - a y - u s p l e x - i h - p u s )



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Ja Fb Mr Ap Ma Jn Ju Ag Sp Oc Nv Dcphotography l CATERPILLARTIM DANIEL; VENTRALTIM DANIEL;DORSALTIM DANIEL

HABITAT:Occurs commonly in nearly any openlandscape, often turning up in gardens and highlyurbanized areas.HOST PLANTS: Common milkweed (Asclepiassyriaca), swamp milkweed (A. incarnata), andbutterfly-weed (A. tuberosa). May use others ofthe thirteen species of milkweed found in Ohio.DISCUSSION:Without doubt, the most widelyrecognized butterfly in Ohio and North America.In addition, the life cycle of the monarch isprobably the best known in the butterfly world.It is also the longest-lived butterfly found in

Ohio, with some adults surviving more than tenmonths. Most of the monarchs produced in Ohioand elsewhere in the north make an incrediblefall migration to high elevation fir forests inMexico. After overwintering there, they return

north in increments, stopping along the way tolay eggs and thus recolonize the southern states.It is the offspring of this first spring brood, andeven second or third broods, that returns toOhio and points north. Males can easily be toldfrom females by the presence of small blackscent glands on a vein of the dorsal hindwing.Caterpillars are distinctive, and are commonlyfound eating milkweed plants. The chrysalis isalso easy to recognize, and is often placed ratherconspicuously, hanging from all manner of plants.Because monarch caterpillars eat milkweed,

which contains toxins called cardiac glycosides,they and the adults are foul-tasting and shunnedby birds and other predators. The fall migrationof monarchs is one of natures great spectacles.Resting swarms can number in the thousands, and

cloak entire trees. Canadian monarchs cross LakeErie, and often occur in profusion on islands inOhio, such as South Bass and Kelleys islands. Thebiggest recorded Ohio concentration dates from1892, when millions of monarchs poured intoCleveland after crossing Lake Erie. Protectionof the fir forests where monarchs winter, in theMichoacan state of Mexico, is vital to conservingeastern North American monarch populations. Inexcess of 100 million butterflies descend uponthese forests, drawing ecotourists from aroundthe world. Fortunately, the Mexican government

has recently taken strong measures to protectthese forests from illegal logging, which wasthreatening the butterflies, and millions ofadditional trees will be planted to help reforestmonarch wintering sites.

3.5- 4

OCCURRENCE:

NORTHERN PEA RLY -EYE E n o d i a a n t h e d o n ( E n - o h - d e e - a h a n - t h e - d o n )



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HABITAT: Shady forested habitats, often nearwatercourses. Sometimes found in shrubbyedges of wetlands, especially in northern Ohio.HOST PLANTS:A number of species of grasses,especially bottlebrush grass (Elymus patula),river oats (Chasmanthium latifolium), long-awned wood grass (Brachyelytrum erectum), and

white grass (Leersia virginica). Larvae have alsobeen found on non-native tall fescue (Loliumarundinaceum).DISCUSSION: Northern pearly-eyes get their

name from the ringed eye-spots on the ventralhindwing. It is one of the few Ohio butterfliesthat strictly inhabits deep, shady woodedhabitats. Pearly-eyes typically rest on tree trunks,head downward. Their dark coloration andstriped and spotted wing pattern allow themto blend well with their surroundings. When

disturbed, they shoot off in an erratic flight thatis hard to follow among the trees and dappledsunlight of the forest. Like many species of satyrbutterflies, pearly-eyes are most active in early

morning and late afternoon. This species rarelyvisits flowers, although occasionally gravid(with fertile eggs) females seek nectar. Rather,they typically visit tree sap, rotting fruit, andanimal remains. Males take mineral salts frommoist trails and roads in woods. The northernpearly-eye is single-brooded in northern Ohio

and double-brooded in southern Ohio. It islocally common in the south, becoming rare touncommon in northern parts of the state. Itpasses the winter in the larval stage.

WINGSPAN:1.75- 2.6

OCCURRENCE:

LITTLE W OOD-SA TYR M e g i s t o c y m e l a ( M e h - j i s t - o h s y - m e l - a h )



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HABITAT: Woods, woodland edges andopenings; nearb

Common Butterflies and Skippers of Ohio Field Guide

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