Butterflies of Louisiana

Duskywings

Erynnis is a genus in the Skippers butterfly family, Hesperiidae, known as the Duskywings.

Skippers

A skipper or skipper butterfly is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. They are named after their quick, darting flight habits. More than 3500 species of skippers are recognized, and they occur worldwide, but with the greatest diversity in the Neotropical regions of Central and South America.

Common Buckeye

The common buckeye or simply, buckeye, (Junonia coenia) is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in southern Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, and Nova Scotia and all parts of the United States except the northwest, and is especially common in the south, the California coast, and throughout Central America and Colombia. The sub-species Junonia coenia bergi is ...more ↓

Painted Lady

Vanessa cardui is a well-known colourful butterfly, known as the Painted Lady, or in North America as the Cosmopolitan. This butterfly has a strange pattern of flying in a sort of screw shape.

American Lady

The American Painted Lady or American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis) is a butterfly found throughout North America.

Cloudless Sulphur

The Cloudless Sulphur or Cloudless Giant Sulphur (Phoebis sennae) is a midsized butterfly in the family Pieridae found in the New World. There are several similar species such as the Yellow Angled-sulphur (Anteos maerula), which has angled wings, or other sulphurs, which are much smaller.

Monarch

The monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is a milkweed butterfly (subfamily Danainae) in the family Nymphalidae. It may be the most familiar North American butterfly. The monarch butterfly is not currently listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) or protected specifically under U.S. domestic laws. Its wings feature ...more ↓

Red Admiral

The Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) is a well-known colourful butterfly, found in temperate Europe, Asia and North America. The Red Admiral has a 45–50 mm (1.8–2.0 in) wing span. The species is resident only in warmer areas, but migrates north in spring, and sometimes again in autumn.

Gulf Fritillary

The Gulf Fritillary or Passion Butterfly (Agraulis vanillae) is a bright orange butterfly of the family Nymphalidae and subfamily Heliconiinae. It was formerly classified in a separate family, the Heliconiidae or longwing butterflies, and like other longwings this species does have long, rather narrow wings in comparison with other butterflies. It is not closely related ...more ↓

Tropical Checkered Skipper

The Tropical Checkered Skipper (Pyrgus oileus) is a species of skipper (family Hesperiidae). It is found from Peninsular Florida, the Gulf Coast, and southern Texas, south through the West Indies, Mexico and Central America to Argentina.

Checkered Skippers

Pyrgus is a genus in the skippers butterfly family, Hesperiidae, known as the grizzled skippers. The name 'Grizzled Skipper' best describes this genus, but in some countries the name 'Checkered Skipper' or 'Chequered Skipper' is applied to some species. Strictly speaking, 'chequered skippers' applies to butterflies of the genus Carterocephalus.

Pipevine Swallowtail

The Pipevine Swallowtail or Blue Swallowtail (Battus philenor) is a swallowtail butterfly found in North America and Central America. The butterflies are black with iridescent blue hind wings. They are found in many different habitats, but are most commonly found in forests. The black or red caterpillars feed on Aristolochia species, making them poisonous as both ...more ↓

Horace's Duskywing

Horace's Duskywing (Erynnis horatius) is a butterfly of the Hesperiidae family. It is found from Massachusetts, west to eastern South Dakota, south through most of the eastern United States to Florida, the Gulf Coast, and southern Texas, south in the west through south-eastern Utah, Colorado, north-eastern Arizona, and New Mexico. Fringes are brown. Upperside of male forewing is ...more ↓

Fiery Skipper

The Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus) is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae and are approximately 1 inch (2.5 cm) long. The males are orange or yellow with black spots while the females are dark brown with orange or yellow spots. The caterpillars are greenish pink with a black head. The caterpillars are often considered pests and can feed on bermudagrass, creeping bentgrass, ...more ↓

Commas

Polygonia (from Greek πολύς - polys, "many" and γωνία - gōnia, "angle") is a genus of butterflies with a conspicuous white mark on the underside of each hindwing, hence the common name Comma. They also have conspicuous angular notches on the outer edges of their forewings, hence the other common name Anglewing butterflies. The related genus Nymphalis ...more ↓

Gray Hairstreak

The Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus), is one of the most common hairstreaks in North America, ranging over nearly the entire continent. It occurs also throughout Central America and in northern South America.

Common Checkered-Skipper

The Common Checkered-skipper (Pyrgus communis) is a species of butterfly in the Hesperiidae family. It is known as the frequently seen Pyrginae species in the northern United States by collectors and watchers alike.

Great Southern White

The Great Southern White (Ascia monuste) is the only species of butterfly of the genus Ascia of the Pieridae family. In this species the sexes may differ with the female being either light or dark colored. It is found from the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States, south through tropical America to Argentina. Migratory along the south-eastern coast of the ...more ↓

Dainty Sulphur

The Dainty Sulphur or Dwarf Yellow (Nathalis iole) is a North American butterfly in the family Pieridae.

Sachem

Atalopedes campestris (called the Sachem in the United States) is a small skipper. It is just over 1 inch long and has orange-and-brown adults. Females are slightly larger and have paler markings on their wings compared to males.

Pearl Crescent

The Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos) is a butterfly of North America. It is found in all parts of the United States except the west coast, and throughout Mexico and parts of southern Canada, in particular Ontario. Its habitat is open areas such as pastures, road edges, vacant lots, fields, open pine woods. Its pattern is quite variable. Males usually have black antennal ...more ↓

Eastern Comma

The Eastern Comma (Polygonia comma) is a North American butterfly in the family Nymphalidae, subfamily Nymphalinae.

Mourning Cloak

Nymphalis antiopa, known as the Mourning Cloak in North America and the Camberwell Beauty in Britain, is a large butterfly native to Eurasia and North America. See also Anglewing butterflies.

Northern Cloudywing

The Northern Cloudywing is a species of the Hesperiidae family.

Cloudywings

Thorybes is a genus of skippers in the family Hesperiidae.

Southern Cloudywing

The Southern Cloudywing (sometimes spelled Southern Cloudy Wing), Thorybes bathyllus, is a North American butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. There are two main reasons why Southern Cloudywings can be difficult to identify: one is individual variation and the other is confusing seasonal forms. In the south, where it has two broods per year, there are two seasonal forms. Spring ...more ↓

Least Skipper

The Least Skipper (Ancyloxypha numitor) is a North American butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. They have a weak, satyr-like flight.

Broad-winged Skipper

The Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator) is a skipper butterfly found in North America.

Dun Skipper

The Dun Skipper, Sedge Witch or Dun Sedge Skipper (Euphyes vestris) is a species of butterfly of the Hesperiidae family. It is found from Nova Scotia west across southern Canada to southern Alberta, south to Florida, the Gulf Coast and eastern Texas. There are disjunct populations in the high plains and Rocky Mountains and along the Pacific Coast.

Dusted Skipper

The Dusted Skipper (Atrytonopsis hianna) is a butterfly of the Hesperiidae family. It is found from eastern Wyoming, central Colorado, northern New Mexico and central Texas east to New Hampshire and Massachusetts, south to peninsular Florida and the Gulf Coast.

Black Swallowtail

The (Eastern) Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes), also called the American Swallowtail or Parsnip Swallowtail, is a butterfly found throughout much of North America. It is the state butterfly of Oklahoma. An extremely similar-appearing species, Papilio joanae, occurs in the Ozark Mountains region, but it appears to be closely related to Papilio ...more ↓

Spicebush Swallowtail

The Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus) is a common black swallowtail butterfly found in North America, also known as the Green-Clouded butterfly. It has two subspecies, Papilio troilus troilus and Papilio troilus ilioneus, the latter found mainly in the Florida peninsula. The spicebush swallowtail derives its name from its most common host plant, the ...more ↓

Clouded Sulphur

The Common or Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice) is a North American butterfly in the family Pieridae, subfamily Coliadinae.

Orange Sulphur

The Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme), also known as the Alfalfa Butterfly and in its larval stage as Alfalfa Caterpillar, is a butterfly of the family Pieridae, where it belongs to the lowland group of "clouded yellows and sulphurs" subfamily Coliadinae. It is found throughout North America from southern Canada to Mexico, but is absent from the central and ...more ↓

Banded Hairstreak

The Banded Hairstreak (Satyrium calanus) is a butterfly in the family Lycaenidae.

Striped Hairstreak

The Striped Hairstreak (Satyrium liparops) is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in North America, from the Rocky Mountains south from southern Canada to Colorado, east to Maine and south to Florida.

Eastern Pine Elfin

The Eastern Pine Elfin (Callophrys niphon) is a species of Lycaenidae that is native to North America.

Spring Azure

The Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon) is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in North America from Alaska and Canada south of the tundra, through most of the United States except the Texas coast, southern plain and peninsula Florida; south in the mountains to Colombia.

American Snout

The American Snout or Common Snout Butterfly (Libytheana carinenta) is a member of the Libytheinae subfamily, in the brush-footed butterfly family Nymphalidae. This species is found in both North and South America. The larval host plants are Celtis spp. on which the eggs are laid singly. Massive migrations of this species often attract attention in the Texas ...more ↓

Question Mark

The Question Mark (Polygonia interrogationis) is a North American nymphalid butterfly. They live in wooded areas and city parks, or generally in areas which feature trees and free spaces. The adult butterfly has a wingspan of 4.5–7.6 cm (1.8–3.0 in). Its flight period is from May to September. "The silver mark on the underside of the hindwing is broken into two parts, a curved ...more ↓

Red-spotted Purple

The White Admiral or Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis) is a polytypic species of North American brush-footed butterfly, common throughout much of the eastern United States. L. a. astyanax has red spots on its underside and the top of the wings are notable for their iridescent blue markings. L. a. arthemis on the other hand has a large white band ...more ↓

Viceroy

The viceroy (Limenitis archippus) is a North American butterfly that ranges through most of the contiguous United States as well as parts of Canada and Mexico. The westernmost portion of its range extends from the Northwest Territories along the eastern edges of the Cascade Range and Sierra Nevada mountains, southwards into central Mexico. Its easternmost range extends along the ...more ↓

Tawny Emperor

The Tawny Emperor (Asterocampa clyton) is a species of brush-footed butterfly. It is native to North America, especially the eastern half from Canada to northern Mexico.

Satyrs, Morphos, and Allies

Satyrinae, the satyrines or satyrids, commonly known as the Browns, is a subfamily of the Nymphalidae (brush-footed butterflies). They were formerly considered a distinct family, Satyridae. This group contains nearly half of the known diversity of brush-footed butterflies. It is estimated that the true number of the Satyrinae species may exceed 2,400.

Alpines, Arctics, Nymphs and Satyrs

The Satyrini are a huge tribe of the Satyrinae, containing the graylings, ringlets, and allies. They belong to the Nymphalidae (brush-footed butterfly) family. The classification used here is based on the new work by Wahlberg et al. (fide Savela 2007)

Little Wood Satyr

The Little Wood Satyr (Megisto cymela) is a species of Satyrinae that occurs in North America.

Checkered White

The Checkered White (Pontia protodice), also called Southern Cabbage Butterfly, is a common North American butterfly in the family Pieridae. Its green larva is a type of cabbage worm.

Great Purple Hairstreak

The Great Purple Hairstreak (Atlides halesus), also called the Great Blue Hairstreak, is a common gossamer-winged butterfly species in parts of the United States. It is actually a Neotropical species; its North American range only includes the warm-temperate and subtropical parts of that continent, and it ranges southwards almost to the Isthmus of Panama. The type ...more ↓

Funereal Duskywing

The Funereal Duskywing (Erynnis funeralis) is a butterfly of the Hesperiidae family. It is found from southern California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas, south to Argentina. Strays can be found north up to northern Illinois, north-eastern Nebraska, central Colorado, southern Nevada and central California.

Eufala Skipper

The Eufala Skipper or Rice Leaffolder (Lerodea eufala) is a butterfly of the Hesperiidae family. It is found from the coast of Georgia, south through Florida and west across the southern United States to southern California, south through Mexico and Central America to Patagonia. In the summer, it expands its range north to central California, North Dakota, southern ...more ↓

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) is a species of swallowtail butterfly native to North America. It is one of the most familiar butterflies in the eastern United States, where it is common in many different habitats. It flies from spring to fall, during which it produces two to three broods. Adults feed on the nectar of many species of flowers, mostly from those of ...more ↓

Red-spotted Admiral

The White Admiral or Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis) is a polytypic species of North American brush-footed butterfly, common throughout much of the eastern United States. L. a. astyanax has red spots on its underside and the top of the wings are notable for their iridescent blue markings. L. a. arthemis on the other hand has a large white band ...more ↓

Carolina Satyr

The Carolina Satyr (Hermeuptychia sosybius) is a butterfly of the Nymphalidae family. It is found from southern New Jersey south along the coast to southern Florida, west to south-eastern Kansas, central Oklahoma and central Texas. It is also found in Mexico.

Silvery Checkerspot

The Silvery Checkerspot (Chlosyne nycteis) is a species of Nymphalinae that occurs in North America.

Long-tailed Skipper

The Long-tailed Skipper (Urbanus proteus) is a spread-winged skipper butterfly found throughout tropical and subtropical South America, south to Argentina and north into the southern part of the United States of America. It cannot live in areas with prolonged frost. It is a showy butterfly, with wings of light brown tinted with iridescent blue, and two long tails extending from ...more ↓

Palamedes Swallowtail

The Palamedes Swallowtail (Papilio palamedes sometimes called the Laurel Swallowtail) is a North American butterfly in the family Papilionidae.

Variegated Fritillary

The Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia) is a North and South American butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. Even though the Variegated Fritillary has some very different characteristics from the Speyeria Fritillaries, it is still closely related to them. Some of the differences are: Variegated Fritillaries have 2–3 broods per year vs. one per year in Speyeria; ...more ↓

Hackberry Emperor

The Hackberry Emperor (Asterocampa celtis) is a North American butterfly that belongs to the family of brushfooted butterflies, Nymphalidae.

Phaon Crescent

Phyciodes phaon (the Phaon crescent or mat plant crescent) is a species of butterfly endemic to northern Florida.

Southern Broken-Dash

The Southern Broken Dash (Wallengrenia otho) is a butterfly of the Hesperiidae family. It is found from eastern Texas and the south-eastern United States, south through the West Indies and Central America to Argentina. Strays can be found as far north as central Missouri, northern Kentucky and Delaware.

Falcate Orangetip

The Falcate Orangetip (Anthocharis midea) is a North American butterfly that was described in 1809 by Jacob Hübner. It belongs to the family Pieridae which is the white and sulphurs. These butterflies are mostly seen on the eastern side of the United States, particularly in Texas and Oklahoma. They eat the nectar of violets and mustards. They tend to live in open, wet ...more ↓

Silver-spotted Skipper

The Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus) is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is claimed to be the most recognized skipper in North America.

Sleepy Orange

The Sleepy Orange (Eurema nicippe) is a North American butterfly in the family Pieridae.

Harvester

The Harvester (Feniseca tarquinius) is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae, and the only member of its genus. It is found in North America.

Summer Azure

The Summer Azure (Celastrina neglecta) is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in North America. Layberry, Hall, and Lafontaine, in The Butterflies of Canada, describe the species:

Zebra Swallowtail

The Zebra Swallowtail (Protographium marcellus, formerly listed under genera Eurytides, Iphiclides, Graphium and Papilio by some authorities) is a swallowtail butterfly native to the eastern United States and southeast Canada. Its distinctive wing shape and long tails make it easy to identify, and its black and white-striped pattern is reminiscent of ...more ↓

Juniper Hairstreak

The Juniper Hairstreak (Callophrys gryneus) is a butterfly native to North America. It belongs in the family Lycaenidae.

Eastern Giant Swallowtail

The Giant Swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes) is a swallowtail butterfly common in various parts of North America and marginally into South America (Colombia and Venezuela only). In the United States and Canada it is mainly found in the south and east. With a wingspan of about 10–16 cm (3.9–6.3 in), it is the largest butterfly in Canada and the United States.

Reakirt's Blue

The Reakirt's Blue (Hemiargus isola) is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in Central America and the extreme southern U.S., isola migrates regularly throughout most of the U.S. almost to the Canadian border, and very rarely into the southern Prairies.

Little Yellow

The Little Yellow, Little Sulphur, or Little Sulfur (Eurema lisa) is a species of Coliadinae that occurs in Central America and the southern part of North America.

White Checkered-skipper

The White Checkered Skipper (Pyrgus albescens) is a species of skipper (family Hesperiidae). It is found on low altitudes in southern California, southern Arizona, southern New Mexico, west and south Texas, Florida and Mexico. A rare stray to southwest Utah and central Texas.

Red-banded Hairstreak

The Red-banded Hairstreak (Calycopis cecrops) is a butterfly native to the southeastern United States. It feeds on fallen leaves of sumac species and other trees. Its size ranges from 0.9–1.25 inches (23–32 mm). It lives near coastal areas and edges.

Mexican Yellow

The Mexican Yellow (Eurema mexicana, sometimes called the Wolf-Face Sulphur) is a North and South American butterfly in the family Pieridae. It occurs mainly in Mexico but occasionally is found in central and southwestern USA and rarely in Canada.

Eastern Tailed-Blue

The Eastern Tailed-blue or Eastern Tailed Blue (Cupido comyntas), also known as Everes comyntas, is a common butterfly of eastern North America. Males are generally blue on the upperside of their wings while females are lighter blue to brown or charcoal in coloring, but there are also varieties of purple and pink found in both sexes. The underside coloration ranges ...more ↓

Pepper and Salt Skipper

The Pepper-and-salt Skipper (Amblyscirtes hegon) is a butterfly of the Hesperiidae family. It is found from Nova Scotia and Maine, west to southern Manitoba, south to Georgia, northern Florida and south-eastern Texas. It is mostly absent from the coastal plain.

Henry's Elfin

Henry's Elfin (Callophrys henrici), sometimes called the Woodland Elfin, is a North American butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. In Canada it is found from southern Manitoba to southern Nova Scotia. It has two main groups of populations in the USA: the first is found along the Atlantic Coast and uses various hollies (Ilex) as host plants; and the second is found ...more ↓

White M Hairstreak

The White M Hairstreak, Parrhasius m-album, is a species of butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in Connecticut west to southeast Iowa and Missouri south to east Texas the Gulf Coast, and peninsular Florida. On rare occasions some stray to Michigan and Wisconsin.

Southern Dogface

The Southern Dogface, Colias cesonia, is a North American butterfly in the family Pieridae, subfamily Coliadinae (until recently the species was sometimes placed in the related genus Colias instead of Zerenia).

Clouded Skipper

The Clouded Skipper (Lerema accius) is a butterfly of the Hesperiidae family. It is found in the United States from Georgia west to Texas, south to Florida, and south through Mexico and Central America to Venezuela and Colombia.

Gemmed Satyr

The Gemmed Satyr (Cyllopsis gemma) is a species of butterfly of the Nymphalidae family. It is found in the South-Eastern United States and North-Eastern Mexico.

Ocola Skipper

The Ocola Skipper or Long-windged Skipper (Panoquina ocola) is a species of butterfly of the Hesperiidae family. It is found in Paraguay north through tropical America and the West Indies to South Texas. Strays north to southeast Arizona, west Texas, central Missouri, Ohio, central Pennsylvania, and Long Island.

Aphrissa

Aphrissa is a genus of butterflies in the family Pieridae found in Central America and South America.

Whirlabout

The Whirlabout (Polites vibex) is a butterfly in the Hesperiidae family. It is resident from southeastern U.S. to the West Indies and Argentina, migrating northward to Ohio and Connecticut. The wingspan is 26–30 mm. It flies all year in the extreme south, and migrates north in late summer and fall.

Gorgone Checkerspot

The Gorgone Checkerspot (Chlosyne gorgone) is a species of Nymphalinae that occurs in North America.

Frosted Elfin

The Frosted Elfin (Callophrys irus) is a species of Lycaenidae that is native to North America.

Southern Pearly-eye

The Southern Pearly Eye, Portland Pearlyeye or just Pearly Eye (Enodia portlandia) is a butterfly of the Nymphalidae family. It is found from eastern Oklahoma and eastern Texas east through the south-eastern United States.

Oak Hairstreak

The Oak Hairstreak or Southern Hairstreak (Satyrium favonius) is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found from southern New England and the Atlantic Coast south to peninsular Florida and west to central Illinois, south-eastern Colorado and the Gulf Coast.

Olive Hairstreak

The Juniper Hairstreak (Callophrys gryneus) is a butterfly native to North America. It belongs in the family Lycaenidae.

Dicot Skippers

The Eudaminae are a subfamily of skipper butterflies (family Hesperiidae). Their original type genus Eudamus is today a junior synonym of Urbanus. They are largely found ion the Neotropics, with some extending into temperate North America and the puzzling Lobocla (which seems closest to Zestusa) occurring in East Asia.

Edited by Matthew Herron, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)