Butterfly and Mississippi Butterflies

Butterflies and their host plants are intri- Gomphrena – Gomphrena globosa cately tied to one another. Generally, there Hardy Ageratum – Conoclinium coelestinum are two types of plants that you must have Hibiscus – Hibiscus spp. in your garden for butterflies. One is a nec- Hollyhock – Alcea rosea tar (or plants); adult butterflies feed Hollyhock Mallow – alcea on these nectar plants. The second plant Joe-Pye Weed – Eupatorium purpureum you must have is a larval host plant; the Lantana – Lantana spp. immature stage (larva) feeds on this plant. Milkweed – Asclepias spp. When you plan a butterfly garden, Musk Mallow – you should plan for both types of plants. Ox-Eye Daisy – Leucanthemum vulgare This information sheet lists both types of Passion – Passiflora incarnata plants and some of the butterflies we can Pentas – Pentas lanceloata expect to see in Mississippi. Queen-Anne's-Lace – Daucus carota Many kinds of butterflies will usually Sages – Salvia spp. visit the nectar plants, but you must be Shasta Daisies – Leucanthemum superbum careful when choosing a larval host plant Showy Sedum – Sedum spectabile if you want to attract a particular Spicebush – Lindera benzoin of butterfly. Also, remember the larval Swamp Sunflower – Helianthus angustifolius plant will be eaten, so expect that to hap- Sweet William – Dianthus barbatus pen and plan accordingly. Verbena – Verbena spp. Willow – Salix spp. Selected Nectar Plants Yarrows – Achillea spp. For Mississippi Butterfly Gardens Zinnia – Zinnia spp. Angel's Trumpet – Datura meteloides Balm – Monarda didyma Selected Larval Plants Black-Eyed-Susan – Rudbeckia spp. For Mississippi Butterfly Gardens Butterfly Bush – Buddleia davidii Anise Hyssop – Agastache foeniculum Cardinal Flower – Lobelia cardinalis Black Cherry – Prunus serotina Cleome – Cleome pungens Common Mallow – Malva neglecta Common Mallow – Malva neglecta Dill Weed – Anethum graveolens Coneflower – Echinacea spp. Dogwood – Cornus florida Coreopsis – Coreopsis spp. Dutchman's pipe – Aristolochia durior Cosmos – Cosmos spp. Fennel – Foeniculum vulgare Dame's Rocket – Hesperis matronalis Frikart Aster – Aster x Frikartii Dogwood – Cornus florida Hollyhock – Alcea rosea Frikart Aster – Aster x Frikartii Hollyhock Mallow – Garden Phlox – Phlox paniculata Milkweed – Asclepias spp. Gayfeathers – Liatris spp. Mullein – Verbascum spp. Glossy Abelia – Abeliax grandiflora Nasturtium – Nasturtium spp. Goldenrod – Solidago spp. New England Asters – Aster novae-angliae Parsley – Petroselinum crispum Viceroy – Basilarchia archippus Passion Flower – Passiflora incarnata Brown Elfin – Insicalia augustinus Pawpaw – Asimina triloba Eastern Pygmy Blue – Brephidium isophthalma Queen-Anne's-Lace – Daucus carota Gray Hairstreak – Strymon melinus Rue – Ruta graveolus Silvery Blue – Glaucopsyche lygdamus Sassafras – Sassafras albidum Spring Azure – Celastrina ladon Spicebush – Lindera benzoin Monarch – Danaus plexippus Sweet Bay – Magnolia virginiana Queen – Danaus gilippus Verbena – Verbena spp. Large Wood Nymph – Ceryonis pegala Willow – Salix spp. Common Checkered Skipper – Pyrgus communis Silver-spotted Skipper – Epargyreus clarus Host plants ensure food sources for butterfly Tawney-edged skipper – Polites themistocles species. When the plants are available for both larva Eastern Black Swallowtail – Papilio polyxenes and adults, they will come. Feeders, water, and miner- Giant Swallowtail – Papilio cresphontes al sources can provide additional incentives for butter- Pipevine Swallowtail – Battus philenor flies to visit and remain in the garden area. Spicebush Swallowtail – Papilio troilus Tiger Swallowtail – Papilio glaucus Common Butterflies Found in Mississippi Zebra Swallowtail – Eurytides marcellus American Painted Lady – Vanessa virginiensis Cabbage White – Pieris rapae Buckeye – Junonia coenia Checkered White – Pontia protodice Comma – Polygonia comma Cloudless Giant Sulfur – Phoebis sennae Gulf Fritillary – Agraulis vanillae Common Sulphur – Colias philodice Hackberry – Asterocampa celtis Dogface butterfly – Zerene cesonia Mourning Cloak – Nymphalis antiopa Falcate Orangetip – Anthocharis midea Painted Lady – Vanessa cardui Orange Sulphur – Colias eurytheme Pearly Crescentspot – Phyciodes tharos Sleepy Orange – Eurema nicippe Question Mark – Polygonia interrogationis Red Admiral – Vanessa atalanta Red-spotted Purple – Basilarchia astyanax

For more information on butterflies, visit these web sites: Butterflies and Moths of North America Web Site: http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/

North American Butterfly Association http://www.naba.org/

North American Butterfly Association Newsletter http://www.naba.org/pubs/bg.html

Compiled by Michael R. Williams, Ph.D., Former Extension Entomology Specialist, and Lelia Scott Kelly, Ph.D., Associate Extension Professor.

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Information Sheet 1661 Extension Service of Mississippi State University, cooperating with U.S. Department of Agriculture. Published in furtherance of Acts of Congress, May 8 and June 30, 1914. MELISSA J. MIXON, Interim Director POD 02-10