Butterflies of Arkansas

For a printable two page pdf format version of this checklist on the web click here.

This version below updated 23 Feb 2017

Format: Abundance (Flight months) (Region) Host Plant #’s

                     A            (1-12)       (A-E)       1-68

Abundance codes:

A=Abundant                   U=Uncommon    

   C=Common                        R=Rare                 

F=Fairly Common          V=Vagrant          

Abundances may vary locally and ratings are average for the state. An L is added to the abundance on highly fluctuant local species.

Regional codes correspond to these rough districts:

A Ozarks and the Northwest

B Ark River Valley from Ft. Smith to Russellville to Little Rock

C Ouachita Mountains and the southwest Gulf Coastal plain

D Northeast, mix of east Ozarks, some Delta & Crowley’s Ridge

E Majority of Delta region and the southeast counties.

Species with no regional bracket entry can be found statewide.

Family:  Hesperiidae

Silver-spotted Skipper

   C (3-12) 54,1,2,3,4

Long-tailed Skipper

   U (7-9) (B-E) 1,2,3

Dorantes Longtail

   V (7) (C) 1,3

Golden Banded-Skipper

   LR (5-9) (A-D) 2

Hoary Edge

   LC (4-10) (A-D) 3,11

Southern Cloudywing

   F (4-9) 1,3,28

Northern Cloudywing

   LC (4-9) 1,3,28,29

Confused Cloudywing

   U (5-9) 1

Outis Skipper

   V (A) 4

Hayhurst’s Scallopwing

   LU (4-9) 5

Sickle-winged Skipper

   V (A)

Horace’s Duskywing

   LC (3-10) 8

Sleepy Duskywing

   F (3-5) 8

Dreamy Duskywing

   LU (4-6) (AB) 54,7,6

Mottled Duskywing

   LU (4-7) (A-C) 9

Juvenal’s Duskywing

   C (2-5) 8,34

Zarucco Duskywing

   V (AC) 1,54

Funereal Duskywing

   LU (5-11) 29

Persius Duskywing

  R (AB) 1,7,6

Wild Indigo Duskywing

   F (3-9) 11,41*

Common Checkered-Skipper

   F (2-4,6-11) 12

Tropical Checkered-Skipper

   V (B) 12

Desert Checkered-Skipper

   V (A)

Northern White-Skipper

   V (C) 12

Common Sootywing

   LU (4-9) 5

Swarthy Skipper

   LF (5-10) 14

Clouded Skipper

   LC (5-11) 13

Least Skipper

   LC (5-11) 13,15,24*

Orange Skipperling

   V (B) 13

Southern Skipperling

   R (4-9) (BCD) 13

Fiery Skipper

   LA (5-11) 19,24*,13

Leonard’s Skipper

   U (8-10) (AB) 15,13

Cobweb Skipper

   LR (4,5) 14

Meske’s Skipper

   LR (5,6,8-10) (ABDE) 14

Peck’s Skipper

   V (A) 24*,13

Tawny-edged Skipper

   C (4-10) 15,24*,13

Crossline Skipper

   LF (5-10) 14,16

Whirlabout

   LU (5-11) (B-E) 19,13

Southern Broken-Dash

   LC (5-10) 21,13

Northern Broken-Dash

   U (6-9) 15,13

Little Glassywing

   LF (5-9) 16

Sachem

   LA (4-11) 19, 21,13

Arogos Skipper

   V (A) 14

Delaware Skipper

   LF (5-9) 13,14

Byssus Skipper

   LC (5-9) 14, 24

Hobomok Skipper

   U (5-7) (ABD) 15, 24*

Zabulon Skipper

   LC (4-9) 16,13

Yehl Skipper

   LU (5-10) 18

Broad-winged Skipper

   LC (5-10) (C-E) 62,15

Dion Skipper

   F (6-9) 17

Dukes’ Skipper

   LU (5-9) 17

Dun Skipper

   LC (4-10) 17

Dusted Skipper

   LU (4,5) 14

Pepper and Salt Skipper

   LU (4-7) 20,24*,13

Linda’s Roadside-Skipper

   LR (4-9) (ABD) 20,13

Lace-winged Roadside-Skipper

   U (4-9) 18

Carolina Roadside-Skipper

   LR (4,7-9) (A) 18

Nysa Roadside-Skipper

   V (A) 21,13

Common Roadside-Skipper

   LU (4-8) 20,24*

Bell’s Roadside-Skipper

   F (4-9) 20

Dusky Roadside-Skipper

   R (3-8) (C) 13

Eufala Skipper

   U (6-10) 19,13

Brazilian Skipper

   LU (9-10) (B-E) 61

Ocola Skipper

   U (6-11) 13

Yucca Giant-Skipper

   R (3,4) (BCE) 63

Family:  Papilionidae

Pipevine Swallowtail

   C (3-11) 66

Polydamas Swallowtail

   V (ACD) 66

Zebra Swallowtail

   LC (3-8) 64

Black Swallowtail

   C (2-9) 22,23*

Ozark Swallowtail

   R (4-9) (AD) 23

Giant Swallowtail

   C (3-9,11) 60,65

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

   A (2-10) 25, ++

Spicebush Swallowtail

   A (3-10) 26,67

Palamedes Swallowtail

   V (AB)

Family: Pieridae

Florida White

   V (A)

Checkered White

   LC (1-9,12) 27

Cabbage White

   F (3-12) 27

Great Southern White

   V (B)

Olympia Marble

   LF (3-5) (A-C) 27

Falcate Orangetip

   LC (2-5) 27

Clouded Sulphur

   F (3-11) 28,29

Orange Sulphur

   A (1-12) 29,41*,11

Southern Dogface

   LF (2-10) 1,29

Cloudless Sulphur

   A (2-12) 30

Mexican Yellow

   V (ABC) 1,4

Orange-barred Sulphur

   V (AD) 30

Large Orange Sulphur

   V (ABC) 1

Barred Yellow

   V (BD) 1

Little Yellow

   C (4-11) 30,2

Sleepy Orange

   C (2-12) 30

Dainty Sulphur

   LC (1,2,4-12) 31

Family: Lycaenidae

Harvester

   LU (3-8) 68

American Copper

   R (4-9) (ABD) 32

Bronze Copper

   LR (5-11) (DE) 32

Great Purple Hairstreak

   U (2-10) 33

Coral Hairstreak

   LC (5-9) (A-D) 25

Edwards' Hairstreak

   LR (5,6) (ABD) 8

Banded Hairstreak

   LC (5-7) 8,34

Hickory Hairstreak

   U (5-7) (AD) 34

King’s Hairstreak

   LR (5,6) (BCE) 35

Striped Hairstreak

   U (5,6) 25

Red-banded Hairstreak

   C (3-11) 10

Juniper Hairstreak

   F (3-9) 38

Frosted Elfin

   U (3,4) (BC) 11

Henry’s Elfin

   F (2-5) 36,25,9*

Eastern Pine Elfin

   LF (3-6) 37

Oak Hairstreak

   U (5,6) 8

White M Hairstreak

   R (2-10) 8

Gray Hairstreak

   LA (3-11) ++

Western Pygmy-Blue

   R (6-9) (AB)

Cassius Blue

   V (D) 1

Marine Blue

   V (ABD) 1

Ceraunus Blue

   V (C) 1

Reakirt’s Blue

   U (4-10) (A-D) 1

Eastern Tailed-Blue

   A (3-11) 1,3

Spring Azure

   F (3-7)

Summer Azure

   LC (3-10)

Appalachian Azure

   LR (5) (A) 39

Dusky Azure

   R (4,5) (AC) 40

Silvery Blue

   LU (3-5) (A-C) 41

Family: Riodinidae

Swamp Metalmark

   LR (6,8,9) (A) 43*

Northern Metalmark

   LR (5,6,8) (ABD) 42

Family: Nymphalidae

American Snout

   F (1-12) 44

Gulf Fritillary

   F (5-12) 45

Julia

   V (B) 45

Zebra

   V (A) 45

Variegated Fritillary

   A (3-12) 46,45

Diana Fritillary

   LU (5-10) 46           

Great Spangled Fritillary

   LC (5-10) (A-D) 46

Regal Fritillary

   R (6-9) (A) 46

Bordered Patch

   V (AC) 56 [2007]

Gorgone Checkerspot

   LF (4-7) 55

Silvery Checkerspot

   F (4-8) 59,55,56*

Phaon Crescent

   LC (5-10) 47

Pearl Crescent

   A (3-11) 56

Baltimore Checkerspot

   LU (6,7) (A) 48*,51*

Question Mark

   LA (1-12) 49*,44,57

Eastern Comma

   LF (2-12) 57*,49*

Gray Comma

   U (3,7-10) (AD) 50

Mourning Cloak

   F (2-6,9-11)7,6,57,44

Milbert’s Tortoiseshell

   V (A) 49*

Painted Lady

   F (3-11) 43 +

American Lady

   LA (3-11) 58

Red Admiral

   C (3-12) 49

Common Buckeye

   LA (2-12) 51*,48

Common Mestra

   V (C) [2007]

Red-spotted Admiral

   C (3-10) 25,6,7

Viceroy

   F (4-10) 7,6

Family: Apaturidae

Goatweed Leafwing

   LC (1-12) 52

Hackberry Emperor

   LA (5-9) 44

Tawny Emperor

   F (5-9) 44

Family: Satyridae

Southern Pearly-eye

   LU (4-9) 18

Northern Pearly-eye

   LF (5-9) 13,20

Creole Pearly-eye

   LR (5-9) 18

Appalachian Brown

   LR (5-9) (DE) 17

Gemmed Satyr

   F (3-10) 13

Carolina Satyr

   F (4-10) 19,13

Helicta/Georgia Satyr

   R (5-9) (CE) 17

Little Wood-Satyr

   A (4-8) 13

Common Wood-Nymph

   LA (6-10) 14,16,13

Family: Danaidae

Monarch

   C (4-11) 53

Queen

   V (AB) 53

Important Host Plants

Butterflies are strongly linked to their host plants. Host plants being the larval food plant of the species caterpillar. Some larva use only a single or a few species. Others, such as the Gray Hairstreak, use a huge variety of plants. Some species are almost always found associated with the key food plants and others wander widely as adults to nectar on flowering species that may not be related to the host plant. Some species, like Pearly-eyes, never nectar at flowers but of course do have a larval food plant. The list below is focused on plant species which occur in Arkansas and on plants associated with the larvae in the wild and not in laboratories.

Not all hosts for each species are given. The first number after each butterfly is usually the major foodplant. Asterisks (such as 43*) show food use of only the asterisk marked species on that numbered line. A ++ mark after a butterfly entry denotes wide usage of many plant species.  A + mark inside the plant brackets signifies additional species or genera not listed. Note that the Harvester butterfly larvae feed on aphids. The aphid bearing plants are given on that species.

 1.   Legumes (Fabaceae)

 2.   Hog Peanut (Amphicarpa bracteata)

 3.   Tick trefoils (Desmodium)

 4.   Acacia (Acacia angustissima)

 5.   Lambsquarters (Chenopodium album)

 6.   Poplar (Populus alba,heterophylla,deltoides)

 7.   Willows (Salix nigra,sericea,discolor,exigua,caroliniana)

 8.   Oaks (Quercus)

 9.   New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus, Rhamnus*)

10. Sumac (Rhus copallina,aromatica)

11. Wild Indigo (Baptisia australis)

12. Mallows (Abutilon,Anoda,Hibiscus,Modiola,Sida)

13. Grasses (Poaceae)

14. Bluestems (Andropogon gerardii,scoparius,virginicus)

15. Panic grass (Panicum)

16. Tridens (Tridens flavus)

17. Sedges (Carex hyalinolepis,stricta,+)

18. Cane (Arundinaria)

19. Bermuda Grass (Cynodon dactylon)

20. Inland Oats (Chasmanthium latifolium)

21. Crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis)

22. Umbels (Daucus,Cicuta,Conium,Angelica)

23. Umbels (Thaspium barbinode*,Taenidia*,Zizia aurea)

24. Bluegrass & Gama Grass (Tripsacum, Poa pratensis*)

25. Cherry (Prunus serotina,americana,virginiana,+)

26. Laurels (Sassafras albidum, Lindera benzoin)

27. Crucifers (Brassica,Lepidium,Arabis,Cardamine)

28. Clover (Trifolium repens,pratense)

29. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa, lupulina)

30. Partridge Pea, Senna (Chamaecrista,Senna)

31. Composites (Dyssodia,Bidens,Cosmos )

32. Dock (Rumex acetosella,crispus,verticillatus,obtusifolius)

33. Mistletoe (Phoradendron leucarpum)

34. Hickory (Carya glabra,ovata,cordiformis)

35. Sweetleaf (Symplocos tinctoria)

36. Redbud (Cercis canadensis)

37. Pine (Pinus echinata)

38. Cedar (Juniperus virginiana)

39. Cohosh & Viburnum (Cimicifuga racemosa, Viburnum acerifolium)

40. Goatsbeard (Aruncus dioicus)

41. Vetch & Crown Vetch (Vicia villosa,caroliniana, Coronilla*)

42. Ragwort (Senecio obovatus)

43. Thistles (Cirsium arvense,muticum*,vulgare,altissimum*)

44. Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis,laevigata,tenuifolia)

45. Passion Vine (Passiflora lutea,incarnata*)

46. Violets (Viola pedatifida,lanceolata,pedata,rafinesquii,+ )

47. Fogfruit (Phyla lanceolata,nodiflora)

48. Plantain (Plantago lanceolata*,rugellii,major,hookeriana)

49. Nettles (Urtica dioica*, urens)

50. Currants (Ribes missouriense)

51. Gerardia (Aureolaria grandiflora*,flava,pedicularia)

52. Goatweed (Croton capitatus,monanthogynus)

53. Milkweeds (Asclepias amplexicaulis,syriaca,incarnata,+)

54. Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)

55. Sunflower (Helianthus annuus, petiolaris,divaricatus)

56. Asters (Aster umbellatus*,novae-angliae,laevis,pilosus,+)

57. Elms (Ulmus americana*,rubra,pumila)

58. Rabbit Tobacco, Pussytoes (Gnaphalium, Antennaria)

59. Coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata)

60. Prickly Ash (Zanthoxylum americanum,clavaherculis)

61. Canna & Thalia (Canna generalis,Thalia)

62. Common Reed (Phragmites australis)

63. Yucca (Yucca arkansana,louisianensis,smalliana,glauca)

64. Pawpaw (Asimina parviflora, triloba)

65. Hop Tree (Ptelea trifoliata)

66. Pipevine (Aristolochia serpentaria,reticulata,tomentosa)

67. Red Bay (Persea borbonia)

68. Aphids on (Alnus,Ilex,Fraxinus,Fagus,Acer,Smilax)