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Butterflies of
Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge

The butterflies of Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge are mainly tropical, with many species occurring only as occasional migrants or transients from Mexico. Although 287 species are listed below, 49 species are hypothetical for Santa Ana NWR.

This checklist is arranged according to the North American Butterfly Association (NABA) Checklist and English Names of North American Butterflies. Data for this checklist were compiled by Edward C. Knudson. Jeffery Glassberg also commented on the list, and Mike Quinn made all final decisions for abundance codes. Recent taxonomic changes are indicated with the former taxon in parentheses.

Not enough is yet known about the lepidoptera (butterflies) of Santa Ana NWR to permit the inclusion of seasonal distribution, but in general, butterflies tend to be more abundant in the late summer and fall.

The relative abundance or rarity of species is indicated by the table below. Please note that insect abundance can be highly variable especially in regions such as South Texas where prolonged droughts are often followed by widespread heavy rains.

 Queens
photo by Lynn Bieber-Weir
A - Abundant Occurring year-round in large to very large numbers.
C - Common     Occurring most of the year in moderate to occasionally large numbers.
U - Uncommon Seasonal, occurring in small to moderate numbers
O - Occasional Probably not present every year, but occasionally present in moderate numbers.
R - Rare Not usually present; when found, only in small numbers.
X - Accidental Recorded only once or twice, probably as a stray.
H - Hypothetical Not recorded at Santa Ana NWR, but has been found in similar habitats nearby.

[Swallowtails] [Whites] [Sulphurs] [Mimic-Whites] [Harvesters] [Hairstreaks] [Blues] [Metalmarks] [Snouts]
[Heliconians and Fritillaries] [True Brush-foots] [Admirals and Relatives] [Leafwings] [Emperors] [Owls]
[Morphos] [Satyrs] [Monarchs] [Spread-wing Skippers] [Grass Skippers] [Giant Skippers]

Swallowtails
Family:  Papilionidae

Pipevine SwallowtailPipevine Swallowtail,
photo by Mike Quinn

Largest of our butterflies, swallowtails are recognized by the "tails" on their hind wings. The background color is black with yellow and/or blue markings. Adults visit flowers for nectar and hover above the flower instead of resting all their weight on it. Males of most species patrol for mates, while others perch on hilltops. Most caterpillars have prominent "eyespots;" all have an osmeterium, a foul-smelling forked-organ thought to repel predators. Many larvae feed on Rutaceae (citrus family) or Apiaceae (carrot family).
___Pipevine Swallowtail Battus philenor C ___Broad-banded Swallowtail Papilio astyalus R
___Polydamas Swallowtail Battus polydamas R ___Palamedes Swallowtail Papilio pilumnus H
___Dark Kite-Swallowtail Eurytides philolaus H ___Three-tailed Swallowtail Papilio pilumnus H
___Black Swallowtail Papilio polyxenes O ___Victorine Swallowtail Papilio victorinus H
___Thoas Swallowtail Papilio thoas R ___Pink-spotted Swallowtail Papilio pharnaces H
___Giant Swallowtail Papilio cresphontes A ___Garamas Swallowtail Papilio garamas H
___Ornythion Swallowtail Papilio ornythion R ___Ruby-spotted Swallowtail Papilio anchisiades R
___Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Papilo glaucus H

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Whites and Sulphurs
Family:  Pieridae

As their common name suggests, whites and sulphurs show shades of white, yellow, or yellowish-green. Most have subtle reddish or white markings on their underside. They can be large to small, but most are mid-sized. The caterpillars tend to be green and cylindrical. Host plants are mostly Brassicaceae (mustard family) for whites and Fabaceae (bean family) for sulphurs. Adults are often seen drinking on damp earth, an activity refered to as "mud puddling." Lyside sulphurs (see photo at right) sometimes migrate in huge numbers. Lyside SulphurLyside Sulphur,
Photo by Mike Quinn

Whites
Subfamily:  Pierinae

___Mexican Dart White Catasticta nimbice H ___Great Southern White Ascia monuste C
___Florida White Appias drusilla R ___Giant White Ganyra josephina O
___Checkered White Pontia protodice A ___Falcate Orangetip Anthocharis midea O
___Cabbage White Pieris rapae R

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Sulphurs
Subfamily: Coliadinae

___Orange Sulphur Colias eurytheme U ___Barred Yellow Eurema daira R
___Southern Dogface Colias cesonia C ___Boisduval's Yellow Eurema boisduvaliana O
___White Angled-Sulphur Anteos clorinde O ___Mexican Yellow Eurema mexicana U
___Yellow Angled-Sulphur Anteos maerula O ___Salome Yellow Eurema salome X
___Cloudless Sulphur Phoebis sennae C ___Tailed Orange Eurema proterpia O
___Orange-barred Sulphur Phoebis philea O ___Little Yellow Eurema lisa A
___Apricot Sulphur Phoebis argante H ___Mimosa Yellow Eurema nise C
___Large Orange Sulphur Phoebis agarithe C ___Dina Yellow Eurema dina X
___Tailed Sulphur Phoebis neocypris (=intermedia) H ___Sleepy Orange Eurema nicippe C
___Statira Sulphur Phoebis statira O ___Ghost Yellow Eurema albula H
___Lyside Sulphur Kricogonia lyside A ___Dainty Sulphur Nathalis iole C

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Mimic-Whites
Subfamily:  Dismorphiinae

___Costa-spotted Mimic-White Enantia albania X

Gossamer-Wing Butterflies
Family:  Lycaenidae

Mallow Scrub-Hairstreak
Mallow Scrub-Hairstreak,
photo by Mike Quinn

 These are small to medium-sized butterflies. The blue subfamily has blue on the upper wing surfaces. The hairstreak subfamily has hair-like filaments coming off the hind wings. Gossamer-winged butterflies hold the wings over the back when at rest. Caterpillars are sluglike. Caterpillars of blues and hairstreaks possess honeydew glands, which provide food for ants. The ants, in exchange, protect the caterpilllars from predators.

Harvesters
Subfamily:  Miletinae

___Harvester  Feniseca tarquinins H

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Hairstreaks
Subfamily:  Theclinae

___Mexican Cycadian Eumaeus toxea (=minijas) H ___Red-crescent Scrub-Hairstreak Strymon rufofusca R
___Strophius Hairstreak Allosmaitia strophius (=pion) R ___Red-lined Scrub-Hairstreak Strymon bebrycia R
___Great Purple Hairstreak Atlides halesus O ___Yojoa Scrub-Hairstreak Strymon yojoa O
___Creamy Stripe-streak Arawacus jada H ___White Scrub-Hairstreak Strymon albata R
___Gold-bordered Hairstreak Rekoa palegon X ___Lacey's Scrub-Hairstreak Strymon alea R
___Marius Hairstreak Rekoa marius (=spurina) R ___Mallow Scrub-Hairstreak Strymon columella C
___Black Hairstreak Ocaria ocrisia X ___Tailless Scrub-Hairstreak Strymon cestri X
___Telea Hairstreak Chlorostrymon telea H ___Lantana Scrub-Hairstreak Strymon bazochii R
___Silver-banded hairstreak Chlorostrymon simaethis O ___Ruddy Hairstreak Electrostrymon sangala (=endymion) R
___Clench's Greenstreak Cyanophrys miserabilis R ___Muted Hairstreak Electrostrymon canus X
___Goodson's Greenstreak Cyanophrys goodsoni R ___Dusky-blue Groundstreak Calycopis isobeon C
___Tropical Greenstreak Cyanophrys herodotus X ___Red-spotted Hairstreak Tmolus echion X
___Xami Hairstreak Callophrys xami R ___Pearly-gray Hairstreak Siderus tephraeus X
___Aquamarine Hairstreak Oenomaus ortygnus X ___Leda Ministreak Ministrymon leda H
___White M Hairstreak Parrhasius m-album H ___Clytie Ministreak Ministrymon clytie U
___Gray Hairstreak Strymon melinus A ___Gray Ministreak Ministrymon azia R

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Blues
Subfamily:  Polyommatinae

___Western Pygmy-Blue Brephidium exilis C ___Ceraunus Blue Hemiargus ceraunus C
___Cassius Blue Leptotes cassius R ___Reakirt's Blue Hemiargus isola A
___Marine Blue Leptotes marina U ___Eastern Tailed-Blue Everes comyntas R
___Cyna Blue Zizula cyna R

Metalmarks
Family:  Riodinidae

This family of mostly small butterflies is closely related to the gossamer-winged butterflies. Many have silvery metalic markings paralleling the wing margins. Most are finely patterned with dark markings on an orange to brownish background. Tropical members of this family can be brilliantly patterned. Caterpillars are sluglike and usually feed on trees or shrubs. Adult metalmarks don't wander, but instead perch near their host plants, generally on the underside of leaves.

Red-Bordered Pixie
Red-Bordered Pixie, photo by Mike Quinn
___Fatal Metalmark Calephilis nemesis C ___Red-bordered Pixie Melanis pixe O
___Rounded Metalmark Calephilis nilus
          (includes perditalis)		 C ___Curve-winged Metalmark Emesis emesis R
___Rawson's Metalmark Calephelis rawsoni H ___Falcate Metalmark Emesis tenedia R
___Red-bordered Metalmark Caria ino U ___Narrow-winged Metalmark Apodemia multiplaga X
___Blue Metalmark Lasaia sula R ___Walker's Metalmark Apodemia walkeri R

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Brush-footed Butterflies
Family:  Nymphalidae

Brush-footed butterflies are the largest and most diverse family. There are more species in this family than any other. Browns, oranges, yellows, and blacks are the most common colors. This family’s unifying characteristic, except for the snouts, is the reduced forelegs of both the males and females. The host plants include many families, ranging from trees, shrubs, and vines to annuals. Caterpillars are usually spiny.

Adults of some groups feed on nectar, while others never visit flowers but instead feed on sap, rotting fruit, carrion, or even dung.

Some field guides split this family into separate smaller families. Snouts have regular population explosions usually coincident with the ending of a prolonged drought.

 Gulf Fritillary
Gulf Fritillary, photo by Lynn Bieber-Weir

Monarchs deserve special recognition as the world’s only insect to make a continent-wide migration, returning annually to their centralized overwintering location.

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Snouts
Subfamily:  Libytheinae

___American Snout Libytheana carinenta
                 (includes bachmanni and motya)		 A

Heliconians and Fritillaries
Subfamily:  Heliconiinae

___Gulf Fritillary Agraulis vanillae A ___Zebra (Heliconian) Heliconius charitonia U
___Mexican Silverspot Dione moneta R ___Erato Heliconian Heliconius erato R
___Banded Orange Heliconian Dryadula phaetusa X ___Variegated Fritillary Euptoieta claudia C
___Julia (Heliconian) Dryas iulia U ___Mexican Fritillary Euptoieta hegesia O
___Isabella’s Heliconian Eueides isabella R

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True Brush-foots
Subfamily:  Nymphalinae

___Theona Checkerspot Thessalia theona U ___Pearl Crescent Phyciodes tharos C
___Bordered Patch Chlosyne lacinia C ___Painted Crescent Phyciodes picta H
___Definite Patch Chlosyne definita O ___Question Mark Polygonia interrogationis U
___Banded Patch Chlosyne endeis R ___Mourning Cloak Nymphalis antiopa H
___Crimson Patch Chlosyne janais R ___American Lady Vanessa virginiensis C
___Rosita Patch Chlosyne rosita R ___Painted Lady Vanessa cardui C
___Red-spotted Patch Chlosyne marina
          (includes melitaeoides)		 H ___Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta C
___Elf Microtia elva X ___Orange Mapwing Hypanartia lethe H
___Tiny Checkerspot Dymasia dymas H ___Common Buckeye Junonia coenia U
___Elada Checkerspot Texola elada C ___Dark Buckeye Junonia coenia nigrosuffusa U
___Texan Crescent Phyciodes texana texana C ___Mangrove Buckeye Junonia evarate O
___"Tulcis" Cuban Crescent Phyciodes frisia tulcis R ___Tropical Buckeye Junonia genoveva R
___Black Crescent Phyciodes ptolyca X ___White Peacock Anartia jatrophae C
___Argentia Crescent Phycoides argentea H ___Banded Peacock Anartia fatima R
___Vesta Crescent Phyciodes vesta C ___Malachite Siproeta stelenes O
___Phaon Crescent Phyciodes phaon C

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Admirals and Relatives
Subfamily Limenitidinae

___Red-spotted Purple Limenitis arthemis astyanax R ___Red Rim Biblis hyperia O
___Viceroy Limenitis archippus R ___Red Cracker Hamadryas amphinome X
___Band-celled Sister Adelpha fessonia R ___Gray Cracker Hamadryas februa O
___California Sister Adelpha bredowii H ___Variable Cracker Hamadryas feronia X
___Spot-celled Sister Adelpha basiloides H ___Guatemalan Cracker Hamadryas guatemalena X
___Common Banner Epiphile adrasta R ___Brownish Cracker Hamadryas iphthine X
___Mexican Bluewing Myscelia ethusa U ___Orion Historis odius H
___Blackened Bluewing Myscelia cyananthe H ___Karwinski’s Beauty Smyrna karwinskii X
___Dingy Purplewing Eunica monima R ___Blomfild’s Beauty Smyrna blomfildia X
___Florida Purplewing Eunica tatila R ___Waiter Daggerwing Marpesia zerynthia (=coresia) X
___Blue-eyed Sailor Dynamine dyonis R ___Many-banded Daggerwing Marpesia chiron R
___Mexican Eighty-eight Diaethria asteria H ___Ruddy Daggerwing Marpesia petreus R
___Common Mestra Mestra amymone C

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Leafwings
Subfamily Charaxinae

___Tropical Leafwing Anaea aidea C ___Pale-spotted Leafwing Anaea pithyusa R
___Goatweed Leafwing Anaea andria C ___Chestnut Leafwing Anaea echemus H
___Angled Leafwing Anaea glycerium X

Emperors
Subfamily Apaturinae

___Hackberry Emperor Asterocampa celtis
          (includes antonia)		 C ___Pavon Emperor Doxocopa pavon R
___Empress Leilia Asterocampa leilia C ___Silver Emperor Doxocopa laure R
 ___Tawny Emperor Asterocampa cyton
          (includes louisa)		 A

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Owls
Subfamily: Brossolinae

___Orange Owl Opsiphanes boisduvalii H

Morphos
Subfamily: Morphinae

___Common Morpho Morpho peleides H

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Satyrs
Subfamily:  Satyrinae

___Gemmed Satyr  Cyllopsis gemma C
___Carolina Satyr  Hermeuptychia sosybius (=hermes) A

Monarchs
Subfamily: Danainae

___Monarch Danaus plexippus C ___Tiger Mimic-Queen Lycorea cleobaea H
___Queen Danaus gilippus A ___Klug’s Clearwing Dircenna klugii H
___Soldier Danaus eresimus U

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Skippers
Family:  Hesperiidae

Skippers are small butterflies with stout bodies. They resemble day-flying moths, but unlike moths, they have "club-shaped" antennae. Common wing colors include orange, brown, black, and white. A few have patches of iridescence. Flight is often rapid, perching posture is unique and the hindwings are opened at a wider angle than the forewings. Many of North America’s skippers are from the tropical region, ranging just into south Texas. Spread-winged Skipper caterpillars feed on broad-leafed plants. Grass Skippers feed on grasses and their allies. Both sub-families of caterpillars feed within rolled leaf shelters, which reduces their vulnerability to predators. Guinea Grass, an introduced invasive species, is displacing native grasses that are host plants of Grass Skippers.
This is causing a decline in population of this group of butterflies.		 wpe12.jpg (6947 bytes)
Guava Skipper, photo by Mike Quinn

Spread-wing Skippers
Subfamily: Pyrginae

___Guava Skipper Phocides palemon (=polybius) O ___Tropical Checkered-Skipper Pyrgus oileus A
___Mercurial Skipper Proteides mercurius X ___Desert Checkered-Skipper Pyrgus philetas O
___Silver-Spotted Skipper Epargyreus clarus H ___Yellow-tipped Flasher Astrapes anaphus R
___Broken Silverdrop Epargyreus exadeus X ___Skinner’s Cloudywing Achalarus albociliatus H
___Hammock Skipper Polygonus leo R ___Coyote Cloudywing Achalarus toxeus O
___Manuel’s Skipper Polygonus manueli H ___Jalapus Cloudywing Achalarus jalapus H
___White-striped Longtail Chioides catillus U ___Northern Cloudywing Thorybes pylades H
___Zilpa Longtail Chioides zilpa O ___Potrillo Skipper Cabares potrillo O
___Golden-spotted Aguna Aguna asander O ___Fritzgaetner’s Flat Celaenorrhinus fritzgaetneri X
___Emerald Aguna Aguna claxon X ___Stallings’ Flat Celaenorrhinus stallingsi X
___Tailed Aguna Aguna metophis R ___Falcate Skipper Spathilepia clonius R
___Mottled Longtail Typhedanus undulatus H ___Mimosa Skipper Cogia calchas C
___Mexican Longtail Polythrix mexicana X ___Acacia Skipper Cogia hippalus X
___Eight-spotted Longtail Polythrix octomaculata R ___Outis Skipper Cogia outis H
___White-crescent Longtail Codatractus alcaeus X ___Starred Skipper Arteurotia tractipennis X
___Long-tailed Skipper Urbanus proteus U ___Purplish-black Skipper Nisoniades rubescens X
___Bell’s Longtail Urbanus belli X ___Confused Pellicia Pellicia angra X
___Pronus Longtail Urbanus pronus X ___Glazed Pellicia Pellicia arina R
___Esmeralda Longtail Urbanus esmeraldus X ___Morning Glory Pellicia Pellicia dimidiata H
___Dorantes Longtail Urbanus dorantes U ___Mottled Bolla Bolla clytius R
___Teleus Longtail Urbanus teleus U ___Obscure Skipper Bolla brennus H
___Tanna Longtail Urbanus tanna X ___Golden-headed Scallopwing Staphylus ceos R
___Plain Longtail Urbanus simplicius X ___Mazan’s Scallopwing Staphylus mazans U
___Brown Longtail Urbanus procne U ___Hayhurst’s Scallopwing Staphylus hayhurstii H
___White-tailed Longtail Urbanus doryssus R ___Variegated Skipper Gorgythion vox (=begga) X
___Two-barred Flasher Astrapes fulgerator U ___Blue-studded Skipper Sostrata bifasciata X
___Small-spotted Flasher Astrapes egregius X ___Hoary Skipper Carrhenes canescens R
___Frosted Flasher Astrapes alardus X ___Glassy-winged Skipper Xenophanes tryxus R
___Gilbert’s Flasher Astrapes gilberti X ___Texas Powdered-Skipper Systasea pulverulenta O
___Hermit Skipper Grais stigmaticus R ___Sickle-winged Skipper Achlyodes mithridates (=thraso) C
___Brown-banded Skipper Timochares ruptifasciatus O ___Erichson’s White-Skipper Heliopetes domicella R
___White-patched Skipper Chiomara asychis U ___Laviana White-Skipper Heliopetes laviana C
___False Duskywing Gesta gesta H ___Turk’s-cap White-Skipper Heliopetes macaira U
___Horace’s Duskywing Erynnis horatius H ___Veined White-Skipper Heliopetes arsalte H
___Mournful Duskywing Erynnis tristis H ___Common Streaky-Skipper Celotes nessus O
___Funereal Duskywing Erynnis funeralis C ___Common Sootywing Pholisora catullus U
___(No english name) Pyrgus adepta H ___Mexican Sootywing Pholisora mejicanus H
___Common Checkered-Skipper Pyrgus communis A ___Saltbush Sootywing Hesperopsis alpheus H

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Grass Skippers
Subfamily: Hesperiinae

___Small-spotted Skipperling Piruna microstictus H ___Fiery Skipperling Hylephila phyleus<

 A
___Malicious Skipper Synapte malitiosa R ___Whirlabout Polites vibex A
___Salenus Skipper Synapte salenus X ___Southern Broken-Dash Wallengrenia otho C
___Redundant Skipper Corticea corticea R ___Little Glassywing Pompeius verna H
___Pale-rayed Skipper Vidius perigenes H ___Sachem Atalopedes campestris C
___Violet-patched Skipper Monca telata (=tyrtaeus) R ___Delaware Skipper Atrytone logan H
___Swarthy Skipper Nastra therminier H ___Common Mellana Mellana eulogius O
___Julia’s Skipper Nastra julia U ___Dun Skipper Euphyes vestris (=ruricola) U
___Fawn-spotted Skipper Cymaenes odilia U ___Nysa Roadside-Skipper Amblyscirtes nysa U
___Clouded Skipper Lerema accius A ___Celia’s Roadside-Skipper Amblyscirtes celia C
___Liris Skipper Lerema liris X ___Eufala Skipper Lerodea eufala C
___Fantastic Skipper Vettius fantasos X ___Olive-clouded Skipper Lerodea dysaules R
___Green-backed Ruby-eye Perichares philetes R ___Brazilian Skipper Calpodes ethlius U
___Osca Skipper Rhinthon osca X ___Obscure Skipper Panoquina panoquinoides O
___Double-dotted Skipper Decinea percosius O ___Ocola Skipper Panoquina ocola C
___Hidden-ray Skipper Conga chydaea X ___Hecebolus Skipper Panoquina hecebola R
___Least Skipper Ancyloxpha numitor R ___Purple-washed Skipper Panoquina sylvicola U
___Tropical Least Skipper Ancyloxphya arena H ___Evan’s Skipper Panoquina fusina R
___Orange Skipperling Copaeodes aurantiacus O ___Violet-banded Skipper Nyctelius nyctelius U
___Southern Skipperling Copaeodes minima U ___Chestnut-marked Skipper Thespieus macareus X

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Giant-Skippers
Subfamily Megathyminae

___Yucca Giant-Skipper Megathymus yuccae H
___Manfreda Giant-Skipper Stallingsia maculosa H

 

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Last Updated December 06, 2001

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