Atlas of North Dakota Butterflies
Dakota Skipper | Photo © Bryan Reynolds |
Information provided by
Dr. Ronald A. Royer
Minot State University
Minot, North Dakota
This resource is designed as a clearinghouse for information specific to a number of butterfly projects in North Dakota. Updated at the end of each butterfly season, it reports the most accurate and most recent North Dakota county atlas data available anywhere. The author serves as Great Plains Coordinator for the Season Summary of the Lepidopterists' Society, and records presented here are based on review of Season Summary and similar published field reports. Only professional, published, specimen-vouchered or photographically confirmed records are included.
Species Information -- Each species entry includes three types of information:
- -- Composite digitally captured images of preserved adult butterflies. In most entries, both sexes are represented (males at top and females at bottom). Most of the images likewise include both upper (left) and lower (right) wing surfaces for each sex. Where more than one form of a species exists or where there is wide variation in marking, additional images are included (to the right in most cases) to illustrate the range of such variation. As far as possible, images are of butterflies actually collected in North Dakota. In a few cases involving non-breeding immigrant species, they are all individuals from adjacent states or provinces and were carefully selected for their similarity to what one would encounter in North Dakota. Because size is also important, note that a small one-centimeter scale appears at lower left-center of each composite image.
- -- Textual information about the species — including naming conventions, habitat, larval food, and adult flight periods. Explanation of Textual Accounts
- Maps -- Distribution maps of North Dakota counties in which species records were collected. Counties shaded dark blue have reliable records for the species indicated. Counties shaded light blue have only questionable or historic records.
Photo Acknowledgments: Title page photo by Bryan Reynolds (nature_photo_man@hotmail.com). All prepared specimen photos by Ronald A. Royer (royer@misu.nodak.edu). Some photos presented in this resource are protected by copyright. Photographers should be contacted for permission prior to any use of photos outside the context of this resource.
Royer, Ronald A. 2003. Butterflies of North Dakota: An atlas and guide (2nd Edition). Minot State University Science Monograph 2. 192pp.
Royer, Ronald A. 1988. Butterflies of North Dakota: An atlas and guide (1st Edition). Minot State University Science Monograph 1. 192pp.
This resource should be cited as:Royer, Ronald A. 2004. Atlas of North Dakota Butterflies. Jamestown ND: Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center Online. http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/insects/bflynd/index.htm (Version 29MAR2004).
Questions or information related to the various butterfly monitoring efforts for which this resource is intended should be conveyed directly to the author at the following address:
Dr. Ronald A. Royer Division of Science Minot State University 500 University Avenue West Minot, North Dakota 58707 email: royer@misu.nodak.edu
Families and Subfamilies
- Skippers (Hesperiidae)
- Pyrigines (Pyrginae)
- Lesser and Branded Skippers (Hesperiinae)
- Giant Skippers (Megathyminae)
- Swallowtails (Papilionidae)
- Swallowtails (Papilioninae)
- Whites and Sulphurs (Pieridae)
- Gossamer Winged Butterflies (Lycaenidae)
- Harvesters (Miletinae)
- Coppers (Lycaeninae)
- Elfins and Hairstreaks (Theclinae)
- Blues (Polyommatinae)
- Metalmarks (Riodinidae)
- Brush-footed Butterflies (Nymphalidae)
- Snouts (Libytheinae)
- Heliconians and Fritillaries (Heliconiinae)
- Checkerspots, Crescents, and Anglewings (Nymphalinae)
- Admirals (Limenitidinae)
- Emperors (Apaturinae)
- Satyrs and Wood Nymphs (Satyrinae)
- Milkweed Butterflies (Danainae)
Skippers
- Pyrigines
- Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus)
- Northern Cloudy Wing (Thorybes pylades)
- Dreamy Dusky Wing (Erynnis icelus)
- Sleepy Dusky Wing (Erynnis brizo)
- Juvenal's Dusky Wing (Erynnis juvenalis)
- Afranius Dusky Wing (Erynnis afranius)
- Persius Dusky Wing (Erynnis persius)
- Small Checkered Skipper (Pyrgus scriptura)
- Checkered Skipper (Pyrgus communis)
- Common Sooty Wing (Pholisora catullus)
- Mohave Sooty Wing (Hesperopsis libya)
- Lesser and Branded Skippers
- Arctic Skipper (Carterocephalus palaemon)
- Least Skipper (Ancyloxypha numitor)
- Poweshiek Skipperling (Oarisma poweshiek)
- Garita Skipperling (Oarisma garita)
- European Skipper (Thymelicus lineola)
- Uncas Skipper (Hesperia uncas)
- Common Branded Skipper (Hesperia comma)
- Ottoe Skipper (Hesperia ottoe)
- Pawnee Skipper (Hesperia leonardus pawnee)
- Pahaska Skipper (Hesperia pahaska)
- Dakota Skipper (Hesperia dacotae)
- Peck's Skipper (Polites peckius)
- Tawny-edged Skipper (Polites themistocles)
- Crossline Skipper (Polites origenes)
- Long Dash (Polites mystic)
- Rhesus Skipper (Polites rhesus)
- Northern Broken Dash (Wallengrenia egeremet)
- Sachem (Atalopedes campestris)
- Arogos Skipper (Atrytone arogos)
- Delaware Skipper (Anatrytone logan)
- Woodland Skipper (Ochlodes sylvanoides)
- Mulberry Wing (Poanes massasoit)
- Hobomok Skipper (Poanes hobomok)
- Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator)
- Dion Skipper (Euphyes dion)
- Dun Skipper (Euphyes vestris)
- Dusted Skipper (Atrytonopsis hianna)
- Oslar's Roadside Skipper (Amblyscirtes oslari)
- Roadside Skipper (Amblyscirtes vialis)
- Eufala Skipper (Lerodea eufala)
- Giant Skippers
- Strecker's Giant Skipper (Megathymus streckeri)
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Swallowtails
- Swallowtails
- Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes)
- Baird's Swallowtail (Papilio bairdii)
- Anise Swallowtail (Papilio zelicaon)
- Giant Swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes)
- Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus)
- Canadian Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio canadensis)
- Western Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio rutulus)
- Two-tailed Swallowtail (Papilio multicaudatus)
- Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus)
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Whites and Sulphurs
- Whites
- Spring White (Pontia sisymbrii)
- Checkered White (Pontia protodice)
- Western White (Pontia occidentalis)
- Mustard White (Pieris napi oleracea)
- Cabbage Butterfly (Pieris rapae)
- Olympia Marble (Euchloe olympia)
- Sulphurs
- Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice)
- Alfalfa Butterfly (Colias eurytheme)
- Queen Alexandra's Sulphur (Colias alexandra)
- Dog Face (Zerene cesonia)
- Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae)
- Mexican Yellow (Eurema mexicanum)
- Little Sulphur (Eurema lisa)
- Dainty Sulphur (Nathalis iole)
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Gossamer Winged Butterflies
- Harvesters
- Harvester (Feniseca tarquinius)
- Coppers
- Little Copper (Lycaena phlaeas)
- Gray Copper (Lycaena dione)
- Bronze Copper (Lycaena hyllus)
- Ruddy Copper (Lycaena rubida)
- Purplish Copper (Lycaena helloides)
- Elfins and Hairstreaks
- Coral Hairstreak (Satyrium titus)
- Acadian Hairstreak (Satyrium acadicum)
- Edwards' Hairstreak (Satyrium edwardsii)
- Banded Hairstreak (Satyrium calanus)
- Striped Hairstreak (Satyrium liparops)
- Sheridan's Hairstreak (Callophrys sheridanii)
- Juniper Hairstreak (Mitoura siva)
- Hoary Elfin (Incisalia polia)
- Western Pine Elfin (Incisalia eryphon)
- Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus)
- Blues
- Reakirt's Blue (Hemiargus isola)
- Eastern Tailed Blue (Everes comyntas)
- Western Tailed Blue (Everes amyntula)
- Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon)
- Summer Azure (Celastrina neglecta)
- Silvery Blue (Glaucopsyche lygdamus)
- Melissa Blue (Lycaeides melissa)
- Greenish Blue (Plebejus saepiolus)
- Boisduval's Blue (Icaricia icarioides)
- Shasta Blue (Icaricia shasta)
- Acmon Blue (Icaricia acmon)
- Rustic Blue (Agriades rusticus)
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Metalmarks
- Mormon Metalmark (Apodemia mormo)
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Brush-footed Butterflies
- Snouts
- Snout Butterfly (Libytheana carinenta bachmanii)
- Heliconians and Fritillaries
- Gulf Fritillary (Agraulis vanillae)
- Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia)
- Great Spangled Fritillary (Speyeria cybele)
- Aphrodite Fritillary (Speyeria aphrodite)
- Regal Fritillary (Speyeria idalia)
- Edwards' Fritillary (Speyeria edwardsii)
- Callippe Fritillary (Speyeria callippe)
- Atlantis Fritillary (Speyeria atlantis)
- Mormon Fritillary (Speyeria mormonia)
- Silver-bordered Fritillary (Clossiana selene)
- Meadow Fritillary (Clossiana bellona)
- Checkerspots, Crescents, and Anglewings
- Gorgone Checkerspot (Charidryas gorgone)
- Silvery Checkerspot (Charidryas nycteis)
- Harris' Checkerspot (Charidryas harrisii)
- Acastus Checkerspot (Charidryas acastus)
- Texan Crescent (Anthanassa texana)
- Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
- Northern Crescent (Phyciodes cocyta)
- Tawny Crescent (Phyciodes batesii)
- Question Mark (Polygonia interrogationis)
- Hop Merchant (Polygonia comma)
- Satyr Anglewing (Polygonia satyrus)
- Green Comma (Polygonia faunus)
- Zephyr (Polygonia zephyrus)
- Gray Comma (Polygonia progne)
- Compton Tortoise Shell (Nymphalis vaualbum)
- California Tortoise Shell (Nymphalis californica)
- Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa)
- Milbert's Tortoise Shell (Aglais milberti)
- American Painted Lady (Vanessa virginiensis)
- Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
- West Coast Lady (Vanessa annabella)
- Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
- Buckeye (Junonia coenia)
- Admirals
- White Admiral (Basilarchia arthemis arthemis)
- Red-Spotted Purple (Basilarchia arthemis astyanax)
- Viceroy (Basilarchia archippus)
- Weidemeyer's Admiral (Basilarchia weidemeyerii)
- Emperors
- Hackberry Butterfly (Asterocampa celtis)
- Tawny Emperor (Asterocampa clyton)
- Satyrs and Wood Nymphs
- Northern Pearly Eye (Enodia anthedon)
- Eyed Brown (Satyrodes eurydice)
- Little Wood Satyr (Megisto cymela)
- Inornate Ringlet (Coenonympha inornata)
- Common Wood Nymph (Cercyonis pegala)
- Mead's Wood Nymph (Cercyonis meadii)
- Dark Wood Nymph (Cercyonis oetus)
- Red-disked Alpine (Erebia discoidalis)
- Ridings' Satyr (Neominois ridingsii)
- Uhler's Arctic (Oeneis uhleri)
- Alberta Arctic (Oeneis alberta)
- Milkweed Butterflies
- Monarch (Danaus plexippus)
- Queen (Danaus gilippus)
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