ButterfliesAs you explore this site, hover your mouse over titles, plant and insect names, and photo captions – many of them are linked to sites with additional information!Butterflies are organized by family-here are quick links to each section:Brush-footed (Family Nymphalidae)Metalmarks (Family Riodinidae)Skippers (Family Hesperidae)Swallowtails (Family Papilonidae)Sulphurs and Whites (Family Pieridae)Blues and Hairstreaks (Family Lycaenidae)Or you can search for a word on this page:[search-in-place-form placeholder=”Keyword” in_current_page=”1″ exclude_hidden_terms=”1″ display_button=”1″]Brush-footed (Family Nymphalidae)Snouts: subfamily LibytheinaeMilkweed butterflies: subfamily DanainaeLongwings: subfamily HeliconiinaeAdmirals and relatives: subfamily LimenitidinaeEmperors: subfamily ApaturinaeTropical brushfoots: subfamily BiblidinaeTrue brushfoots: subfamily NymphalinaeLeafwings: subfamily CharaxinaeSatyrs and Wood-nymphs: subfamily SatyrinaeMorphos: subfamily Morphinae“Most species have a reduced pair of forelegs and many hold their colourful wings flat when resting. They are also called brush-footed butterflies or four-footed butterflies, because they are known to stand on only four legs while the other two are curled up; in some species, these forelegs have a brush-like set of hairs, which gives this family its other common name. Many species are brightly coloured and include popular species such as the emperors, monarch butterfly, admirals, tortoiseshells, and fritillaries. However, the under wings are, in contrast, often dull and in some species look remarkably like dead leaves, or are much paler, producing a cryptic effect that helps the butterflies blend into their surroundings.”Click on the butterfly name in a photo to learn more; larval host plants are listed under the name.American LadyGlobemallows, Western Mugwort, Sonoran Everlasting, GroundselAmerican LadyAmerican SnoutDesert Hackberry, Canyon HackberryAmerican SnoutCalifornia PatchParish’s Goldeneye, Common SunflowerCalifornia PatchElada CheckerspotAcanthus familyphoto © Michael J PlagensEmpress LeliaDesert Hackberry, Canyon HackberryEmpress LeliaField CrescentAster and Machaeranthera sppphoto © Danielle CarlockFulvia CheckerspontPaintbrush in Figwort familyphoto © Danielle CarlockGray BuckeyeRuellia spp, Snapdragon Vine, Frog Fruit, Monkeyflower, Whitewhooly TwintipGray BuckeyeGulf FritillaryPassionvineGulf FritillaryGulf FritillaryMonarchMilkweedsMonarchMormon FritillaryViolet spp.photo © Elliott GordonMourning CloakWillows, Cottonwoods, Birches, Aspen, HackberryMourning CloakPainted LadyArizona Thistle, Desert Cotton, Globemallows, Western Betony, Mexican Sunflower Bush, Yarrow, Western MugwortPainted LadyPearl CrescentAster spp.photo © Elliott GordonQueenMilkweedsQueenQueenQueenQueenRed AdmiralAsters, New Mexico Hops, Nettles familySatyr CommaNettle sppphoto © Danielle CarlockTiny CheckerspotChuparosa, Justicia spp, Hairy FournwortVariable CheckerspotFigwort familyphoto © Michael J PlagensVariegated FritillaryPassionvineVariegated FritillaryViceroyCottonwoods, Willows, Poplar, Aspens, Cherry, Apple, PlumWeidemeyer’s AdmiralAspen, Cottonwood, Willows, Shadbushphoto © Danielle CarlockWest Coast LadyGlobemallowsBrush Footed Butterflies Time Lapse of a Monarch from caterpillar to chrysalis to butterflyMetalmarks (Family Riodinidae)True metalmarks: subfamily Riodininae“The colouration ranges from muted colours in the temperate zone species to iridescent blue and green wings and transparent wings in tropical species. The golden or silvery metallic spots on the wings in many species of the Americas gave them the English common name “metalmarks”.”Fatal MetalmarkSeepwillow, ClematisFatal MetalmarkPhoto © Michael J PlagensPalmer’s MetalmarkMesquitesPalmer’s MetalmarkMesquites, Catclaw AcaciaPhoto © Michael J PlagensMetalmarksSkippers (Family Hesperiidae)Spread-wing skippers: subfamily PyrginaeGrass skippers: subfamily HesperiinaeGiant skippers: subfamily Megathyminae“Skippers have the antennae clubs hooked backward like a crochet hook, while the typical butterflies have club-like tips to their antennae, and moth-butterflies have feathered or pectinate (comb-shaped) antennae similar to moths. Skippers also have generally stockier bodies and larger compound eyes than the other two groups, with stronger wing muscles in the plump thorax, in this resembling many moths more than the other two butterfly lineages do.”Arizona Powdered SkipperAbutilon spp, BaldderpodCommon Checkered SkipperAbutilon spp, GlobemallowsErichson’s White SkipperBladderpod, MallowsEufala SkipperBermuda Grass, SugarcaneEufala SkipperFalse DuskywingWild indigo (Indigofera suffruticosa and I. lindheimeriana) photo © Elliott GordonFiery SkipperBermuda Grass, St Augustine GrassFiery SkipperFiery SkipperFunereal DuskywingButterfly Pea, Baby Bonnets, Wright’s Milkpea, Slender Janusia, Shrubby Deervetch, New Mexico LocustFunereal DuskywingGolden-banded SkipperNew Mexico Locust, Hog Peanutphoto ©Michael J PlagensGolden-headed ScallopwingChenopodium, Lamb’s Quartersphoto ©Michael J Plagensphoto © Michael J PlagensNorthern White SkipperAbutilon spp, Bladderpod, GlobemallowsOrange SkipperlingGreen Sprangletop, Bamboo Muhly, Bermuda Grass, Sideoats GramaTexas Roadside SkipperApache Red GrassTexas Roadside SkipperViolet-clouded SkipperBermuda Grass, Green SprangletopWhite Checkered SkipperAbutilon spp, GlobemallowsWhite Checkered SkipperSkippersSwallowtails (Family Papilionidae)Parnassians: subfamily ParnassiinaeSwallowtails: subfamily Papilioninae“Swallowtail butterflies are large, colorful butterflies in the family Papilionidae, and include over 550 species… The genera of extant swallowtails are usually classified into three subfamilies, Baroniinae, Parnassiinae, and Papilioninae, the latter two being further divided into tribes. In swallowtails, besides morphological characteristics, the choice of food plants and ecological lifestyle reflect phylogeny and classification.”Black SwallowtailHost: Rue of the Mountains, Parsley, Wild CarrotBlack SwallowtailPipevine SwallowtailPipevine SwallowtailHost: PipevinePipevine SwallowtailQuestion MarkAmerican elm, red elm, hackberry, Japanese hop, nettles, and false nettlephoto © Elliott GordonWestern Giant SwallowtailHoptree, Common Rue, Citrus sppWestern Tiger SwallowtailAspen, Cottonwood, Willows, Cherry, Ashphoto © Danielle CarlockSulphurs and Whites (Family Pieridae)Whites: subfamily PierinaeSulphurs: subfamily Coliadinae“The Pieridae family consists of a large number of small to medium size butterflies, characterized by orange, white or yellow wings. Identification can be difficult for many nature lovers, like us! Many species of Sulphurs are quite similar in size, color, markings and flight characteristics. Plus some interbreed and hybridize which makes identification even more difficult.”Checkered WhitePerennial Rockcress, Perennial Mustard, California Mustard, WatercressClouded SulphurPea Family (Fabaceae)Cloudless SulphurSenna spp, Desert Rosemallow, Heart Leaved Hibiscus, Paleface HibiscusCloudless SulphurDainty SulphurArizona Beggarticks, Wright Thimblehead, Odora, Dogweed, Desert Marigold, ParalennaDainty SulphurDainty SulphurLarge MarbleMustard spp including Rockcressphoto © Elliott GordonLarge Orange SulphurDesert Fern, Pea FamilyLarge Orange SulphurMexican YellowAcacia spp, Senegalia spp, Vachellia spp, New Mexico Locust, Senna sppMexican YellowOrange SulphurTexas EbonySleepy OrangeSenna spp, Arizona Beggarticks, Cassia sppSleepy OrangeSouthern DogfaceFalse Indigo, Dalea spp, Parry’s False Prairie Clover, Senna sppTailed OrangeMesquites, Senna sppSulphurs and WhitesBlues and Hairstreaks (Family Lycaenidae, Gossamer-wing Butterflies)Coppers: subfamily LycaeninaeHairstreaks: subfamily TheclinaeBlues: subfamily Polyommatinae“The Lycaenidae are members of the Superfamily Papilionoidea, the true butterflies… The adults are typically small to tiny and often brilliantly colored–iridescent blues, bright reds, and oranges. Adults of both sexes have three pairs of walking legs, though most males have fused segments in their front legs.”“Most adults visit flowers for nectar, but some harvesters feed on wooly aphid honeydew and some hairstreaks feed on aphid honeydew or bird droppings. Females lay single, sea urchin shaped eggs on host leaves or flower buds; the resulting caterpillars are typically slug-shaped. In many species, caterpillars depend on ants for protection, so caterpillars produce sugary secretions that are collected by the ants. Most species overwinter in either the egg or pupal stage.”Acmon BlueBuckwheats (Eriogonum), lupinephoto © Michael J PlagensCeraunus BlueEastern Mojave Buckwheat, Mesquite spp, Pink Fairy Duster, Sonoran Kidneywood, Fernball Acacia, Cooley Bundleflower, Texas Ebony, TenazaDorcas CopperCinquefoilsphoto © Elliott GordonEcho AzureHost: Ceanothus sppGray HairstreakHost: Beargrass, California Buckthorn, Dalea spp, Desert Cotton, False Indigo, Globemallows, HibiscusGreat Purple HairstreakHost: MisteltoeJuniper HairstreakJuniper sppLeda MinistreakMesquitesphoto © Terrence CoxMallow Scrub HairstreakMallow family, Hibiscusphoto © Michael J PlagensMarine BlueFairy Dusters, Senegalia spp (Catclaw Acacia), Desert Plumbago, False Indigo, Kidneywood, Leadwort, Mesquites, Palo Blanco, Santa Rita Acacia, Tenaza, Wright’s MilpeaMexican-M Hairstreakphoto © Elliott GordonReakirt’s BlueMimosa spp, Vachellia spp, Catclaw Acacia, Dalea spp, Mesquite sppSandia HairstreakFlowers and developing seeds of Texas and Woodland beargrass (photo © Elliott Gordon)Thicket HairstreakDwarf Mistletoes that grow on juniper, pine, firphoto © Danielle CarlockWestern Pygmy BlueHost: Saltbush sppAll photos © George Roark unless otherwise notedResources:Butterflies of the Central Arizona Highlands, by Philip McNally, PHDButterflies and Moths of North AmericaButterflies at HomeRelated PostsShare this:FacebookXWhatsAppPinterestRedditPrintLike this:Like Loading...