VegasNM Flora: Butterfly Associates

Las Vegas, NM Flora:
and Some of the Associated Butterflies

Thanks to the severe eight month drought now mitigated by the monsoon
there was little new flora to engage me this year.
But there are always BUGS! --PJW, 10/Jul/2018

Butterflies were my first collection obsession. I was about eight years old living with my family in the North Woods of Wisconsin, my mother had outfitted me with net, killing jar, mounting board, the whole works. Off I went on safari through the tall grasses the mowed acres, the flower gardens and woods. I had quite a collection the prize being a Luna Moth (Actias luna, family Saturniidae). The first winter the collection was stored on the upright piano, later when looking at it I discovered only some wings and bare pins. Mice had found it and eaten all the bodies. That was the end of my Butterfly collecting until now when I use a camera, it is more to my taste, if not to the mice's.

Let's find a BUG!



order	BUTTERFLIES, MOTHS (LEPIDOPTERA)	126 families, 10 per cent of the all described species of living being pollinators, bringers of joy to young and old	⬇photosclick on icon: right for next, left for previous, click off image to exit	⬇notesclick on icon to read additional notes on taxon

family:	Skipper butterflies (HESPERIIDAE)	small, mostly orange or brown, short fat bodies, hooked antennae and rapid, skipping flight
btrf32 H#4049	Sachem Skipper *(Atalopedes campestris)*	Only about an in. long, Its host plants are various grasses, including lawn grasses. Its caterpillar is dark green and black	□ □ □ □ □ □
btrf13	Silver-spotted Skipper *(Epargyreus clarus)*		□ □	X Like most skippers, silver-spotted skipper larvae live in leaf shelters. Like many caterpillars that live in leaf nests they forcibly eject their frass for considerable distances to eliminate chemical cues to predators. see entnemdept.ufl.edu
btrf48	Horace's Duskywing *(Erynnis horatius)*	» Spread-wing Skippers (Pyrginae) » Erynnini » Duskywings (Erynnis)	□ □ □
btrf56 #3953	Mournful Duskywing *(Erynnis tristis)*	hosts on various native oak species; w. coast to s. TX to Colombia	□
btrf52 #3956	Zarucco Duskywing *(Erynnis zarucco?)*	» Spread-wing Skippers (Pyrginae) » Erynnini » Duskywings (Erynnis) »	□ □ □
btrf59 H#4020	Common Branded Skipper *(Hesperia comma)*	» Grass Skippers (Hesperiinae) » Hesperiini » ~16 ssp. in US; Hesperia comma is one of the most widely distributed skipper species in the world		X learn about butterflies Straw-coloured eggs laid singly on the narrow leaf blades of grasses. Larvae fully developed within the eggs by early autumn, but do not hatch 'til following March. Feed nocturnally on the fine tender leaf blades, sheltering by day in a flimsy silken tent spun at the base of a grass tuft. Fully grown larva dark green w/ wrinkled skin, black head. Pupa dark brown w/ blackish wing cases. Formed within a cocoon of coarse silk at the base of grass tufts. The butterfly develops quickly, emerging after ~7 days.
btrf61 #4056	Snow's Skipper *(Paratrytone snowi)*	» Grass Skippers (Hesperiinae) » Hesperiini » jun-aug in AZ, NM, CO mtns.	□ □ □ □
btrf15	Taxiles Skipper *(Poanes taxiles)*		□ □ □ □ □ □
btrf23	Common Checkered Skipper *(Pyrgus communis)*	host: Malvaceae	□ □ □ □ □
btrf16	Short-tailed Skipper *(Zestusa dorus)*		□

family:	Gossamer-wing Butterflies (LYCAENIDAE)	approx 4,700 spp. Coppers and blues north temp zones, hairstreaks New World trop. Adults small-tiny bright colored. sea urchin shaped eggs on host leaves or flower buds. Most overwinter as egg or pupal.
subfamily:	Blues *(Polyommatinae)*
btrf26	Ceraunus Blue *(Hemiargus ceraunus)*	Subfamily: Polyommatinae () Hosts: A variety of woody legumes, NM Locust	□ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □	X www.butterfliesandmoths.org Hosts: A variety of woody legumes, i.e. NM Locust
btrf27	Reakirt's Blue *(Echinargus isola)*	Upperside of male light blue with darker veins and dusky border; female darker. Underside of forewing with postmedian row of 5 round black spots circled with white. Wingspread c. 1"	□ □ □ □ □ □ □
btrf39	Marine Blue *(Leptotes marina)*	hosts: many legumes including alfalfa (Medicago sativa), milkvetch (Astragalus)	□ □ □ □ □

subfamily:	Hairstreaks *(Theclinae)*			X
btrf53	Gray Hairstreak *(Strymon melinus)*	» Eumaeini »	□ □ □ □ □ □

family	Brush-foot butterflies (NYMPHALIDAE)	largest family, adult front pair of legs modified into two small brushes, only four legs are used for walking
btrf60 #4527.1	Arizona Sister *(Adelpha eulalia)*	» Admirals, Sisters (Limenitidinae) » (Limenitidini) » was a ssp of A. bredowii (of Mexico) larval host oaks (not many in town) favoring low areas near surface water, patrols along roads and paths; mostly feeds on mud, tree sap, carrion, rotting fruit	□ □
btrf49	Great Basin Wood Nymph *(Cercyonis sthenele)*	» Satyrs, Morphos and Owls (Satyrinae) » Alpines, Arctics, Nymphs and Satyrs (Satyrini) »		X
btrf21	Queen *(Danaus gilippus)*		□ □ □ □ □
btrf05	Monarch *(Danaus plexippus)*		□ □ □
btrf04	Variegated fritillary *(Euptoieta claudia)*	or Mexican fritillary *(E. hegesia)*	□
btrf54 #4440	Common Buckeye *(Junonia coenia)*	» Junoniini » Buckeyes (Junonia) » not seen in north NM until 2020	□ □ □ □
btrf62 #4411	American Snout *(Libytheana carinenta)*	» Snouts (Libytheinae) » Libytheana »	□ □	X On the undersides the wings are cryptically patterned to resemble dead leaves or tree bark. The uppersides are typically dark brown, with orange and / or white markings. -- learnaboutbutterflies.com
btrf14	Weidemeyer's Admiral *(Limenitis weidemeyerii)*		□ □
btrf02	Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa)	usually the first butterfly seen each year as they hibernate over winter and awaken as soon as it is warm enough. They do not need to wait for flowers to bloom as they dine on tree sap.	□ □ □ □ □	X
btrf51	Mylitta Crescent *(Phyciodes mylitta)*		□
btrf31	Mexican Crescent *(Phyciodes pallescens)*	seems to match images on butterfliesandmoths.org	□
btrf09	Painted Crescent *(Phyciodes picta)*	small 1-1.5", stream edge short grass prairie, host: Aster, Bindweed!	□ □
btrf17	Question Mark *(Polygonia interrogationis)*		□ □ □
btrf06	Green Comma *(Polygonia faunus)*		□
btrf20	Hoary Comma *(Polygonia gracilis)*		□
btrf40	West Coast Lady *(Vanessa annabella)*	Orange bar at the leading edge of the forewing; hindwing with 3 or 4 blue submarginal spots. Hosts: Many plants in Malvaceae including Sphaeralcea, Malva, Sidalcea, Althea.	□	X I never ID'd my butterfly photos 'til 2018, so assumed Vanessa annabella was V. cardui, I'll be more observant in the future.
btrf12	Red Admiral *(Vanessa atalanta)*		□
btrf07	Painted lady *(Vanessa cardui)*	most widespread of all butterflies, migrates, Female larger than Male, with folded wings looks like a dead leaf	□ □ □ □ □ □ □
btrf46	American Lady *(Vanessa virginiensis)*		□

family:	Swallowtail butterflies (PAPILIONIDAE)
btrf01	Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes)	host: Apiaceae: Anis, Poison Hemlock, photos: P1309408-9	□ □ □ □ □
btrf08	Two Tailed Swallowtail *(Papilio multicaudata)*	thinner black stripes than other yellow swallowtails, usually multiple tails, Two-Tailed,a NM resident, largest butterfly in US	□	X
btrf11	Western Tiger Swallowtail *(Papilio rutulus)*		□ □ □ □ □

family:	Whites-and-yellows (PIERIDAE)
btrf28	Sleepy Orange *(Abaeis nicippe)*	Upperside of wings orange Forewing with small black cell spot. Male with sharply defined black borders; female borders not so well-defined. Underside of hindwing in summer form is orange-yellow.	□
btrf25	Orange Sulphur *(Colias eurytheme)*	ID; see note	□ □	X Identification Similar to C. philodice; generally larger; orange instead of yellow (most noticeable on upper surface), and wider dark wing margins.(1). C. eurytheme is also less likely to have grayish scaling on the lower surface and tends to have broader wings with slightly more angular shapes. The white form females of the two species are the same color, but those of eurytheme can often be separated from the white form female philodice by the narrower dark HW outer border. In philodice the HW border will usually not have any pale spots included, while eurytheme most often has included spots that are often isolated from the rest of the wing. This is variable in both species, but is often a helpful "rule of thumb".
btrf24	Clouded Sulfur *(Colias philodice)*	ID; see note	□ □ □	X Identification Yellow or white with wings bordered dark brown on top; each wing has a spot near the middle, dark on the front wings, and yellowish to orange on the hind wings. Wings ventrally without dark borders; usually paler than above, usually with a row of dark spots on both front and hind wings parallelling outer margin; front wing with dark spot in middle, that usually has a pale center; hind wing with middle spot round, pearly white, usually with a satellite spot, and usually double-ringed by dark lines and pink color. The white form female philodice can often be separated from the white form female eurytheme by the HW outer margin. In philodice the HW dark outer margin will usually be narrower often without included pale spots or with the pale spots merging with yellow part of wing, while eurytheme most often has a wider irregular and dark border, with pale spots completely included within. White form males are very rare, but can be distinguished by association with normal yellow individuals, and usually by the narrower dark border in this species as compared to C. eurytheme.
btrf38	Dainty Sulphur *(Nathalis iole)*	smallest US sulphur, c.1 in, cannot stand cold, must recolonize in spring.	□ □ □ □	X Hosts Spanish needles, (Bidens bipinnata) Beggar ticks, (Bidens species) Fetid marigold, (Dyssodia papposa) Common chickweed, (Stellaria media) Greentread, (Thelesperma species)
btrf22	Cabbage White *(Pieris rapae)*	Top wings white or pale yellowish w/ black forewing tip; female bottom forewing: 2 black spots; male: 1. Both: 1 black spot well out along front margin on top hindwing. Under forewing white w/ yellowish apex, 2 black spots in both sexes; under hindwing uniformly pale yellow in both.	□ □ □
btrf37	Western White *(Pontia occidentalis)*	Upperside of forewing has marginal markings that are lighter than the submarginal stripe. Below, forewing tip and hindwing have veins outlined with gray-green.		X Upperside of forewing has marginal markings that are lighter than the submarginal stripe. Below, forewing tip and hindwing have veins outlined with gray-green. Short-day spring and fall forms have more prominent markings. Wing Span: 1 1/2 - 2 1/8 inches (3.8 - 5.3 cm).
btrf10	Checkered White *(Pontia protodice)*	Sexually dimorphic. Males are nearly all white, with some dark spots and dashes on dorsal side of FW. Females are darker marked on the dorsal side of FW, but diffuse brown. Hosts: Plants in the mustard family (Brassicaceae), larva known as Southern cabbageworm	□ □ □ □ □	X Identification: Upperside of male forewing has black checkered pattern on outer half. Female is more heavily patterned, but markings are more brown and diffuse. Hindwing of both male and female white. Underside of male hindwing with pale checkered pattern. Underside of female with yellow-tan markings on hindwing and tip of forewing. Short-day form has underside hindwing veins with heavy gray-green outlines. Wing Span: 1 1/2 - 2 1/2 inches (3.8 - 6.3 cm).

family:	Pyralid & Crambid Snout Moths *( CRAMBIDAE )*	the grass moth family, variable in appearance, 800 species in America north of Mexico, often have prominent labial palpi, hind wings that fold under the body or lay flat when at rest, and larvae that are agricultural pests.
btrf58 #5017	Alfalfa Webworm *(Loxostege cereralis)*	» Pyraustinae » Larva: body yellowish to dark green with broad light-colored stripe down back, and darker stripe parallel to light stripe	□ □ □ □ □ □ □	X

family:	Erebidae moths (EREBIDAE)	Erebidae from the type genus Erebus (Latreille), Greek meaning "from the darkness" is among the largest families of moths by species count and contains a wide variety of well-known groups.
subfamily:	Tiger and Lichen Moths (ARCTIINAE)	most distinctive feature is a tymbal organ on the metathorax wh has membranes wh vibrate to produce ultrasonic sounds. They also have thoracic tympanal organs for hearing, setae ('hairs') on the larvae, wing venation, and a pair of glands near the ovipositor.
btrf47	Checkered moth *(Arachnis zuni)*	» Tiger and Lichen Moths (Arctiinae) » Tiger Moths (Arctiini) » Spilosomina »	□ □ □ □
btrf55 #8040	Northern Giant Flag Moth *(Dysschema howardi)*	subtribe:Pericopina F; M similar, HW Bk/W w/ Bl triangles	□ □ □ □ □	X Dysschema howardi No other sp of Dysschema ranges as far north as D. howardi. There are some 90 spp of Dysschema, mostly in S Amer. AZ to w. TX / NW Mex. Food: Asteraceae
btrf03	Isabella Tiger Moth (Pyrrharctia isabella)	Woollybear Caterpillar black-brown-black, becoming more and more brown w/ age
btrf35	Virginian Tiger Moth *(Spilosoma virginica)*	Yellow Woolly Bear	□ □ □ □

subfamily:	Litter Moths (HERMINIINAE)	Litter Moth because most feed on leaf litter as grubs, pupate in the ground.
btrf29	unk Litter Moth *(EREBIDAE: Renia? Tetanolita? sp.)*	any one knowing what this is, I would appreciate an email.	□ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □

family:	Tent Caterpillar and Lappet Moths *( LASIOCAMPIDAE )*
moth01	Western Tent Caterpillar *(Malacosoma californicum)*	» Lasiocampinae » Lasiocampini »	□ □ □ □ □ □ □ □	X

family:	Owlet Moths *( NOCTUIDAE )*
subfamily:	Cutworm or Dart Moths *( NOCTUINAE )*	Owlet Moths and kin (Noctuoidea) » Owlet Moths (Noctuidae) » Noctuinitribe »	X
btrf18	Dart Moth ? (Copablepharon ? )		□ □
btrf42	Dart Moth ? (Dichagyris madida)?	on both 17 August and 24 September 2018 there are multiple individuals and maybe multiple species » Noctuini » Agrotina » Dichagyris » Dichagyris madida - Hodges#10885 (Dichagyris madida)?	□ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □	X This sp. or spp. looks very much like Sand-verbena Moth - Hodges#10690.1 (Copablepharon fuscum) as found in BugGuide and PNW Moths though it does not live on sand dunes in Pac. NW and this one has green eyes (maybe it's the light on alive moths).
btrf43	Dart Moth ? (Copablepharon ? )		□ □
btrf44	Dart Moth ? (Copablepharon ??)		□ □ □ □ □	X
btrf45	Dart Moth? *(Copablepharon?? sp.45)*		□ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □	X Copablepharon Paradiarsia? Dichagyris?
moth04 #10731	Army Cutworm *(Euxoa spp?)*	Agrotina » Euxoa » Subgenus Chorizagrotis? »	□ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □	X genus: Dichagyri, Euxoa, Striacosta or Protogygia? I said in 2019: all indicated genera have same 2 stigma on forewings, there maybe more, no match yet

subfamily:	Looper Moths *(PLUSIINAE)*	Owlet Moths (Noctuidae) »		X
btrf41	Delicate Silver Y *(Autographa pseudogamma?)*	the Silver Y (or gamma) here seems to be filled-in, but it doesn't fit A. califorica either.	□ □ □	X A. californica very similar to pseudogamma, but but can be separated from that species by the presence of a black streak from the subterminal line to the post median line about 1/4 from the FW apex. ???

family:	Pyralid Moths *( PYRALIDEA )*	Pyraloidea(superfamily) »	X
btrf57 #5935	Sunflower moth *(Homoeosoma electella)*	» Phycitinae » Phycitini » ... We can thank the Coronavirus for giving me the time to ID of this moth which has been waiting most of a year while I have been tramping over hill and dale. I'll get back to my novel now. Go to bugs.html#wasp18	□ □ □ □ □ □ □ □

family:	Giant Silk and Royal moths (SATURNIIDAE)	Saturniidae is based on the eyespots of some members of the family that contain concentric rings reminiscent of the planet Saturn
btrf33	Polyphemus moth *(Antheraea polyphemus)*	4 to 6 in; male antennae more plumose the better to detect females pheromones; female abdomen larger for eggs, neither has a working mouth so they do not eat and live as only about a week as adults.	□ □	X Antheraea polyphemus A very good treatment of this sp. can be found at UFA

family:	Clearwing Moths (SESIIDAE)
subfamily:	Clearwing Borer Moth (SESIINAE)
btrf30 #2538	Buffalo Gourd Melittia *(Melittia snowii)*	» Sesiinae » Melittiini » Melittia »	□ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □	X Melittia snowii larval gall Larval foodplant is Cucurbita foetidissima (buffalo gourd). Eggs are laid on leaf petioles or tender shoots on the host plant. Young larvae bore inside the shoots and cause conspicuous gall-like swellings up to 3" x 1". Mature larvae drop to the ground from a hole made in the bottom of the gall and create slik-lined cocoons below the surface where the pupate. For rearing purposes, large occupied galls can be covererd with soil in a cage. If empty galls are found the larvae/pupae are easily found by carefully scratching the soil near the plant (Williams, 1913; Engelhardt, 1946). Many other bugs enter the gall through the larval exit hole. I have seen tipulid larvae, isopods, cucumber beetles, mites, even lady bugs in these vacated galls. --Linda Wiener, 2012, BugGuide
moth08 #2576	Strawberry Crown Moth *(Synanthedon bibionipennis)*	» Sesiinae » Synanthedonini » Larvae bore into roots or stems near the crown of various spp Rose family (Fragaria, Rosa, Rubus, Potentilla)	□ □

family:	Sphinx moth (SPHINGIDAE)
btrf34	White-lined Sphinx *(Hyles lineata)*	usually fly at dusk, during night, and dawn, but also during day. Caterpillar Hosts: A great diversity including willow weed (Epilobium), four o'clock (Mirabilis), evening primrose (Oenothera), elm (Ulmus)	□ □
btrf19	Tobacco hawkmoth *(Manduca sexta)*	I've seen the caterpillar since about 2000 starting in Nevada wh it would eat our tomatoes, never the moth, it might be totally nocturnal, I'm diurnal. Shortly after writing the above our cat brought one in... see note>>	□ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □

family:	Leaf Skeletonizer Moths *( ZYGAENIDAE )*	» Zygaenoidea) »	X
moth07 #4626	Grape Leaf Skeletonizer *(Neoalbertia constans)*	» Procridinae » Neoalbertia »; Larvae have stinging setae; host: Vitis arizonica; see: southwestmoths.org; mimics foul smelling tasting Net Winged Beetles, Lycidae; see: Host: Vitis arizonica (Arizona or Canyon grape, uva del monte)	□ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □	X goto: uwm.edu/field-station; Pale Green Assassin
unkunknown:	*(UNKNOWN)*			X

order

BUTTERFLIES, MOTHS
(LEPIDOPTERA)

126 families, 10 per cent of the all described species of living being
pollinators, bringers of joy to young and old

family:

Skipper butterflies
(HESPERIIDAE)

small, mostly orange or brown, short fat bodies, hooked antennae and rapid, skipping flight

btrf32
H#4049

Sachem Skipper
(Atalopedes campestris)

Only about an in. long, Its host plants are various grasses, including lawn grasses. Its caterpillar is dark green and black

□ □ □
□ □ □

btrf13

Silver-spotted Skipper
(Epargyreus clarus)

□ □

Like most skippers, silver-spotted skipper larvae live in leaf shelters. Like many caterpillars that live in leaf nests they forcibly eject their frass for considerable distances to eliminate chemical cues to predators. see entnemdept.ufl.edu

btrf48

Horace's Duskywing
(Erynnis horatius)

» Spread-wing Skippers (Pyrginae) » Erynnini » Duskywings (Erynnis)

□ □ □

btrf56
#3953

Mournful Duskywing
(Erynnis tristis)

hosts on various native oak species; w. coast to s. TX to Colombia

□

btrf52
#3956

Zarucco Duskywing
(Erynnis zarucco?)

» Spread-wing Skippers (Pyrginae) » Erynnini » Duskywings (Erynnis) »

□ □ □

btrf59
H#4020

Common Branded Skipper
(Hesperia comma)

» Grass Skippers (Hesperiinae) » Hesperiini » ~16 ssp. in US; Hesperia comma is one of the most widely distributed skipper species in the world

learn about butterflies

Straw-coloured eggs laid singly on the narrow leaf blades of grasses. Larvae fully developed within the eggs by early autumn, but do not hatch 'til following March. Feed nocturnally on the fine tender leaf blades, sheltering by day in a flimsy silken tent spun at the base of a grass tuft. Fully grown larva dark green w/ wrinkled skin, black head. Pupa dark brown w/ blackish wing cases. Formed within a cocoon of coarse silk at the base of grass tufts. The butterfly develops quickly, emerging after ~7 days.

btrf61
#4056

Snow's Skipper
(Paratrytone snowi)

» Grass Skippers (Hesperiinae) » Hesperiini » jun-aug in AZ, NM, CO mtns.

□ □ □
□

btrf15

Taxiles Skipper
(Poanes taxiles)

□ □ □
□ □ □

btrf23

Common Checkered Skipper
(Pyrgus communis)

host: Malvaceae

□ □
□ □ □

btrf16

Short-tailed Skipper
(Zestusa dorus)

□

family:

Gossamer-wing Butterflies
(LYCAENIDAE)

approx 4,700 spp. Coppers and blues north temp zones, hairstreaks New World trop. Adults small-tiny bright colored. sea urchin shaped eggs on host leaves or flower buds. Most overwinter as egg or pupal.

subfamily:

Blues
(Polyommatinae)

btrf26

Ceraunus Blue
(Hemiargus ceraunus)

Subfamily: Polyommatinae () Hosts: A variety of woody legumes, NM Locust

□ □ □
□ □ □ □ □
□

www.butterfliesandmoths.org

Hosts: A variety of woody legumes, i.e. NM Locust

btrf27

Reakirt's Blue
(Echinargus isola)

Upperside of male light blue with darker veins and dusky border; female darker. Underside of forewing with postmedian row of 5 round black spots circled with white. Wingspread c. 1"

□ □ □ □ □ □ □

btrf39

Marine Blue
(Leptotes marina)

hosts: many legumes including alfalfa (Medicago sativa), milkvetch (Astragalus)

□ □ □
□ □

subfamily:

Hairstreaks
(Theclinae)

btrf53

Gray Hairstreak
(Strymon melinus)

» Eumaeini »

□ □ □
□ □ □

family

Brush-foot butterflies
(NYMPHALIDAE)

largest family, adult front pair of legs modified into two small brushes, only four legs are used for walking

btrf60
#4527.1

Arizona Sister
(Adelpha eulalia)

» Admirals, Sisters (Limenitidinae) » (Limenitidini) » was a ssp of A. bredowii (of Mexico)
larval host oaks (not many in town) favoring low areas near surface water, patrols along roads and paths; mostly feeds on mud, tree sap, carrion, rotting fruit

□ □

btrf49

Great Basin Wood Nymph
(Cercyonis sthenele)

» Satyrs, Morphos and Owls (Satyrinae) » Alpines, Arctics, Nymphs and Satyrs (Satyrini) »

btrf21

Queen
(Danaus gilippus)

□ □ □
□ □

btrf05

Monarch
(Danaus plexippus)

□ □ □

btrf04

Variegated fritillary
(Euptoieta claudia)

or Mexican fritillary
(E. hegesia)

□

btrf54
#4440

Common Buckeye
(Junonia coenia)

» Junoniini » Buckeyes (Junonia) »
not seen in north NM until 2020

□ □ □
□

btrf62
#4411

American Snout
(Libytheana carinenta)

» Snouts (Libytheinae) » Libytheana »

□ □

On the undersides the wings are cryptically patterned to resemble dead leaves or tree bark. The uppersides are typically dark brown, with orange and / or white markings. -- learnaboutbutterflies.com

btrf14

Weidemeyer's Admiral
(Limenitis weidemeyerii)

□ □

btrf02

Mourning Cloak
(Nymphalis antiopa)

usually the first butterfly seen each year as they hibernate over winter and awaken as soon as it is warm enough. They do not need to wait for flowers to bloom as they dine on tree sap.

□ □ □
□ □

btrf51

Mylitta Crescent
(Phyciodes mylitta)

□

btrf31

Mexican Crescent
(Phyciodes pallescens)

seems to match images on butterfliesandmoths.org

□

btrf09

Painted Crescent
(Phyciodes picta)

small 1-1.5", stream edge short grass prairie, host: Aster, Bindweed!

□ □

btrf17

Question Mark
(Polygonia interrogationis)

□ □ □

btrf06

Green Comma
(Polygonia faunus)

□

btrf20

Hoary Comma
(Polygonia gracilis)

□

btrf40

West Coast Lady
(Vanessa annabella)

Orange bar at the leading edge of the forewing; hindwing with 3 or 4 blue submarginal spots. Hosts: Many plants in Malvaceae including Sphaeralcea, Malva, Sidalcea, Althea.

□

I never ID'd my butterfly photos 'til 2018, so assumed Vanessa annabella was V. cardui, I'll be more observant in the future.

btrf12

Red Admiral
(Vanessa atalanta)

□

btrf07

Painted lady
(Vanessa cardui)

most widespread of all butterflies, migrates, Female larger than Male, with folded wings looks like a dead leaf

□ □ □
□ □ □ □

btrf46

American Lady
(Vanessa virginiensis)

□

family:

Swallowtail butterflies
(PAPILIONIDAE)

btrf01

Black Swallowtail
(Papilio polyxenes)

host: Apiaceae: Anis, Poison Hemlock,
photos: P1309408-9

□ □ □
□ □

btrf08

Two Tailed Swallowtail
(Papilio multicaudata)

thinner black stripes than other yellow swallowtails, usually multiple tails, Two-Tailed,a NM resident, largest butterfly in US

□

btrf11

Western Tiger Swallowtail
(Papilio rutulus)

□ □ □
□ □

family:

Whites-and-yellows
(PIERIDAE)

btrf28

Sleepy Orange
(Abaeis nicippe)

Upperside of wings orange Forewing with small black cell spot. Male with sharply defined black borders; female borders not so well-defined. Underside of hindwing in summer form is orange-yellow.

□

btrf25

Orange Sulphur
(Colias eurytheme)

ID; see note

□ □

Identification

Similar to C. philodice; generally larger; orange instead of yellow (most noticeable on upper surface), and wider dark wing margins.(1). C. eurytheme is also less likely to have grayish scaling on the lower surface and tends to have broader wings with slightly more angular shapes.
The white form females of the two species are the same color, but those of eurytheme can often be separated from the white form female philodice by the narrower dark HW outer border. In philodice the HW border will usually not have any pale spots included, while eurytheme most often has included spots that are often isolated from the rest of the wing. This is variable in both species, but is often a helpful "rule of thumb".

btrf24

Clouded Sulfur
(Colias philodice)

ID; see note

□ □ □

Identification

Yellow or white with wings bordered dark brown on top; each wing has a spot near the middle, dark on the front wings, and yellowish to orange on the hind wings. Wings ventrally without dark borders; usually paler than above, usually with a row of dark spots on both front and hind wings parallelling outer margin; front wing with dark spot in middle, that usually has a pale center; hind wing with middle spot round, pearly white, usually with a satellite spot, and usually double-ringed by dark lines and pink color.
The white form female philodice can often be separated from the white form female eurytheme by the HW outer margin. In philodice the HW dark outer margin will usually be narrower often without included pale spots or with the pale spots merging with yellow part of wing, while eurytheme most often has a wider irregular and dark border, with pale spots completely included within.
White form males are very rare, but can be distinguished by association with normal yellow individuals, and usually by the narrower dark border in this species as compared to C. eurytheme.

btrf38

Dainty Sulphur
(Nathalis iole)

smallest US sulphur, c.1 in, cannot stand cold, must recolonize in spring.

□ □ □ □

Hosts

Spanish needles, (Bidens bipinnata)
Beggar ticks, (Bidens species)
Fetid marigold, (Dyssodia papposa)
Common chickweed, (Stellaria media)
Greentread, (Thelesperma species)

btrf22

Cabbage White
(Pieris rapae)

Top wings white or pale yellowish w/ black forewing tip; female bottom forewing: 2 black spots; male: 1. Both: 1 black spot well out along front margin on top hindwing. Under forewing white w/ yellowish apex, 2 black spots in both sexes; under hindwing uniformly pale yellow in both.

□ □ □

btrf37

Western White
(Pontia occidentalis)

Upperside of forewing has marginal markings that are lighter than the submarginal stripe. Below, forewing tip and hindwing have veins outlined with gray-green.

Upperside of forewing has marginal markings that are lighter than the submarginal stripe. Below, forewing tip and hindwing have veins outlined with gray-green. Short-day spring and fall forms have more prominent markings. Wing Span: 1 1/2 - 2 1/8 inches (3.8 - 5.3 cm).

btrf10

Checkered White
(Pontia protodice)

Sexually dimorphic. Males are nearly all white, with some dark spots and dashes on dorsal side of FW. Females are darker marked on the dorsal side of FW, but diffuse brown. Hosts: Plants in the mustard family (Brassicaceae), larva known as Southern cabbageworm

□ □ □
□ □

Identification: Upperside of male forewing has black checkered pattern on outer half. Female is more heavily patterned, but markings are more brown and diffuse. Hindwing of both male and female white. Underside of male hindwing with pale checkered pattern. Underside of female with yellow-tan markings on hindwing and tip of forewing. Short-day form has underside hindwing veins with heavy gray-green outlines. Wing Span: 1 1/2 - 2 1/2 inches (3.8 - 6.3 cm).

family:

Pyralid & Crambid Snout Moths
( CRAMBIDAE )

the grass moth family, variable in appearance, 800 species in America north of Mexico, often have prominent labial palpi, hind wings that fold under the body or lay flat when at rest, and larvae that are agricultural pests.

btrf58
#5017

Alfalfa Webworm
(Loxostege cereralis)

» Pyraustinae » Larva: body yellowish to dark green with broad light-colored stripe down back, and darker stripe parallel to light stripe

□ □ □
□ □ □ □

family:

Erebidae moths
(EREBIDAE)

Erebidae from the type genus Erebus (Latreille), Greek meaning "from the darkness" is among the largest families of moths by species count and contains a wide variety of well-known groups.

subfamily:

Tiger and Lichen Moths
(ARCTIINAE)

most distinctive feature is a tymbal organ on the metathorax wh has membranes wh vibrate to produce ultrasonic sounds. They also have thoracic tympanal organs for hearing, setae ('hairs') on the larvae, wing venation, and a pair of glands near the ovipositor.

btrf47

Checkered moth
(Arachnis zuni)

» Tiger and Lichen Moths (Arctiinae) » Tiger Moths (Arctiini) » Spilosomina »

□ □ □
□

btrf55
#8040

Northern Giant Flag Moth
(Dysschema howardi)

subtribe:Pericopina F; M similar, HW Bk/W w/ Bl triangles

□ □ □ □ □

Dysschema howardi

No other sp of Dysschema ranges as far north as D. howardi.
There are some 90 spp of Dysschema, mostly in S Amer.
AZ to w. TX / NW Mex.
Food: Asteraceae

btrf03

Isabella Tiger Moth
(Pyrrharctia isabella)

Woollybear Caterpillar black-brown-black, becoming more and more brown w/ age

btrf35

Virginian Tiger Moth
(Spilosoma virginica)

Yellow Woolly Bear

□ □ □
□

subfamily:

Litter Moths
(HERMINIINAE)

Litter Moth because most feed on leaf litter as grubs, pupate in the ground.

btrf29

unk Litter Moth
(EREBIDAE: Renia? Tetanolita? sp.)

any one knowing what this is, I would appreciate an email.

□ □ □
□ □ □ □ □
□ □ □ □ □
□

family:

Tent Caterpillar and Lappet Moths
( LASIOCAMPIDAE )

moth01

Western Tent Caterpillar
(Malacosoma californicum)

» Lasiocampinae » Lasiocampini »

□ □ □
□ □ □ □ □

family:

Owlet Moths
( NOCTUIDAE )

subfamily:

Cutworm or Dart Moths
( NOCTUINAE )

Owlet Moths and kin (Noctuoidea) » Owlet Moths (Noctuidae) »

btrf18

Dart Moth ?
(Copablepharon ? )

□ □

btrf42

Dart Moth ?
(Dichagyris madida)?

on both 17 August and 24 September 2018 there are multiple individuals and maybe multiple species » Noctuini » Agrotina » Dichagyris » Dichagyris madida - Hodges#10885 (Dichagyris madida)?

□ □ □
□ □ □ □ □
□ □ □ □ □
□ □

This sp. or spp. looks very much like Sand-verbena Moth - Hodges#10690.1 (Copablepharon fuscum) as found in BugGuide and PNW Moths though it does not live on sand dunes in Pac. NW and this one has green eyes (maybe it's the light on alive moths).

btrf43

Dart Moth ?
(Copablepharon ? )

□ □

btrf44

Dart Moth ?
(Copablepharon ??)

□ □ □
□ □

btrf45

Dart Moth?
(Copablepharon?? sp.45)

□ □ □
□ □ □ □ □
□ □ □

Copablepharon Paradiarsia? Dichagyris?

moth04
#10731

Army Cutworm
(Euxoa spp?)

Agrotina » Euxoa » Subgenus Chorizagrotis? »

□ □ □
□ □ □ □ □
□ □ □ □ □
□ □

genus: Dichagyri, Euxoa, Striacosta or Protogygia?

I said in 2019: all indicated genera have same 2 stigma on forewings, there maybe more, no match yet

subfamily:

Looper Moths
(PLUSIINAE)

Owlet Moths (Noctuidae) »

btrf41

Delicate Silver Y
(Autographa pseudogamma?)

the Silver Y (or gamma) here seems to be filled-in, but it doesn't fit A. califorica either.

□ □ □

A. californica very similar to pseudogamma, but but can be separated from that species by the presence of a black streak from the subterminal line to the post median line about 1/4 from the FW apex. ???

family:

Pyralid Moths
( PYRALIDEA )

Pyraloidea(superfamily) »

btrf57
#5935

Sunflower moth
(Homoeosoma electella)

» Phycitinae » Phycitini » ... We can thank the Coronavirus for giving me the time to ID of this moth which has been waiting most of a year while I have been tramping over hill and dale. I'll get back to my novel now.
Go to bugs.html#wasp18

□ □ □
□ □ □ □ □

family:

Giant Silk and Royal moths
(SATURNIIDAE)

Saturniidae is based on the eyespots of some members of the family that contain concentric rings reminiscent of the planet Saturn

btrf33

Polyphemus moth
(Antheraea polyphemus)

4 to 6 in; male antennae more plumose the better to detect females pheromones; female abdomen larger for eggs, neither has a working mouth so they do not eat and live as only about a week as adults.

□ □

Antheraea polyphemus

A very good treatment of this sp. can be found at UFA

family:

Clearwing Moths
(SESIIDAE)

subfamily:

Clearwing Borer Moth
(SESIINAE)

btrf30
#2538

Buffalo Gourd Melittia (Melittia snowii)

» Sesiinae » Melittiini » Melittia »

□ □ □
□ □ □ □ □
□

Melittia snowii larval gall

Larval foodplant is Cucurbita foetidissima (buffalo gourd).
Eggs are laid on leaf petioles or tender shoots on the host plant. Young larvae bore inside the shoots and cause conspicuous gall-like swellings up to 3" x 1". Mature larvae drop to the ground from a hole made in the bottom of the gall and create slik-lined cocoons below the surface where the pupate. For rearing purposes, large occupied galls can be covererd with soil in a cage. If empty galls are found the larvae/pupae are easily found by carefully scratching the soil near the plant (Williams, 1913; Engelhardt, 1946).

Many other bugs enter the gall through the larval exit hole. I have seen tipulid larvae, isopods, cucumber beetles, mites, even lady bugs in these vacated galls. --Linda Wiener, 2012, BugGuide

moth08
#2576

Strawberry Crown Moth
(Synanthedon bibionipennis)

» Sesiinae » Synanthedonini » Larvae bore into roots or stems near the crown of various spp Rose family (Fragaria, Rosa, Rubus, Potentilla)

□ □

family:

Sphinx moth
(SPHINGIDAE)

btrf34

White-lined Sphinx
(Hyles lineata)

usually fly at dusk, during night, and dawn, but also during day. Caterpillar Hosts: A great diversity including willow weed (Epilobium), four o'clock (Mirabilis), evening primrose (Oenothera), elm (Ulmus)

□ □

btrf19

Tobacco hawkmoth
(Manduca sexta)

I've seen the caterpillar since about 2000 starting in Nevada wh it would eat our tomatoes, never the moth, it might be totally nocturnal, I'm diurnal.
Shortly after writing the above our cat brought one in... see note>>

□ □ □
□ □ □ □ □
□ □ □

family:

Leaf Skeletonizer Moths
( ZYGAENIDAE )

» Zygaenoidea) »

moth07
#4626

Grape Leaf Skeletonizer
(Neoalbertia constans)

» Procridinae » Neoalbertia »; Larvae have stinging setae; host: Vitis arizonica; see: southwestmoths.org; mimics foul smelling tasting Net Winged Beetles, Lycidae; see: Host: Vitis arizonica (Arizona or Canyon grape, uva del monte)

□ □ □
□ □ □ □ □
□ □ □ □ □
□ □

goto: uwm.edu/field-station; Pale Green Assassin

unkunknown:

(UNKNOWN)