Spread-winged Skippers WHITES AND SULPHURS METALMARK BUTTERFLIES AND A POCKET GUIDE BUTTERFLIES These skippers are larger than About 14 species in ND of these medium-sized (1.5-2 inch Only one species in ND, the Butterflies belong to the order Lepidoptera, meaning grass skippers and most are Mormon metalmark, and only DRAGONFLIES “scale wings.” It is estimated that up to 20,000 species wingspan) white or yellow butterflies. While species identification brown or gray in color. Eleven is not too difficult, it’s convenient to lump found in the badlands. Adults exist in the world. About 150 species of butterflies have species. feed on rabbit brush and cater- been identified in North Dakota. BRYAN E. REYNOLDS these active butterflies into either “whites” or The insect world is a place to discover and As its name implies the common “yellows.” pillar on wild buckwheat. Common Checkered BRYAN E. REYNOLDS observe thousands of interesting new creatures. Butterflies differ from moths: checkered skipper is common in Skipper Mormon Metalmark It is these small creatures that create the begin- ND and is especially plentiful in Whites BRUSH-FOOTED BUTTERFLIES MOTHS ning to a complex food chain. Without them, the badlands. These caterpillars feed on a variety of BUTTERFLIES many other forms of wildlife would not exist. Smooth, slender bodies Plump, fuzzy bodies plants in the mustard or cabbage family, Grass Skippers These small to large (1-4 inch wingspan) butterflies are From newly hatched ducklings to frogs, toads Thin antennae with a Thicker, more feathery including broccoli and cabbage in your active and colorful. Brush-footed butterflies are named because and bats, insects are used by almost every living knobbed end antennae Grass skippers are more colorful garden. Six “whites” in ND. the forelegs are shortened and covered in hairs, giving them a creature. skippers, with orange and yellow The cabbage butterfly is nonnative and “brushy” appearance. Approximately 54 species may be found Rest with wings upright over Rest with wings hues. Caterpillar food is primarily “White Butterfly” Butterflies, moths, dragonflies and damsel- the back spread out can be a garden pest. in ND. Brushfoots are further grasses such as little bluestem. divided into the following seven Most active Most active flies are a group of insects that are particularly Thirty one species. Yellows groups: interesting, in large part, because they are bril- during the day during the night Dakota skipper populations Caterpillars may feed on plants in your liantly colored and more visible to the human Usually brightly colored More are dull colored have declined due to loss of BRYAN E. REYNOLDS garden, but are most often encountered Fritillaries eye. Because they are found in many habitats native prairie and they have been Dakota Skipper in alfalfa and clover fields. Eight “yel- The 11 ND fritillaries are from wetlands and prairies to urban back yards, PPARTSARTS OOFF A BBUTTERFLYUTTERFLY proposed for listing as a threat- lows” in ND. medium to large (2-4.0 they are a good group of subjects for study and ened or endangered species. The clouded and alfalfa butterflies can inch wingspan). Sometimes enjoyment. be difficult to distinguish from each other. “Yellow Butterfly” difficult to identify, larger FOREWINGS SWALLOWTAILS ones can be grouped into This publication features only a small sample “greater fritillaries” and the Large (2.5-4.5 inch wingspan) GOSSAMER WINGS of common species found in North Dakota, and smaller into “lesser fritil- COMPOUND EYE butterflies with one or more tails on some of them you probably recognize. Other WING VEINS Small (less than 1.5 inch wing- laries.” Orange and black each hindwing. Nine species in ND. span) butterflies, about 29 species more comprehensive publications provide a ANTENNAE dorsal wings and silvery more in depth identification process for those Caterpillars have an orange-red in ND. They are further divided into ventral wings. PROBOSCIS Y-shaped structure on the head. four groups, of which three are that are not so common. The Aphrodite fritillary Aphrodite Fritillary When threatened, the caterpillar described here. The fourth, one spe- HINDWINGS newly hatched caterpillars Turning your own back yard into an attractive releases a pungent odor from this cies of harvester, is quite rare in ND. Canadian Tiger Swallowtail do not feed, but overwin- place for these insects is a project we hope you THORAX structure. Overwinter as a chrysalis. will consider. “Butterfly gardening” is a great ABDOMEN Coppers ter in this form, and do not eat until spring. activity that can involve the whole family. The 6 LEGS Yellow Swallowtails Look for iridescent purple hues The swallowtails, being more on the five species in ND. The flowers you plant will attract these creatures as Bronze Copper Crescents and well as add beauty to your neighborhood. Some LIFE CYCLE yellow, can be lumped into this bronze copper is found in wet Checkerspots butterflies and moths require specific plants, group, though some might actu- meadows where curly dock and There are four distinct stages of a butterfly or moth’s life: ally be a “black” swallowtail The eight butterfly adding to the satisfaction of your research, other dock species occur, its larval species. About five “yellow swal- food. species in this group are planting and providing a habitat on your own • Eggs are laid singly or in clusters on host plants or small, orange and dark sometimes on the ground. lowtails” in ND. Pearl Crescent property. Black Swallowtail Hairstreaks brown/black on the back • Caterpillars (or larvae) hatch from the eggs and Canadian tiger swallowtail Caterpillar Secretive and short flight periods and orange and white on consume the host plants. They mature through a caterpillars feed on leaves of the underside. Sandra Johnson Chris Grondahl series of stages (instars) where the skin is shed, poplars (e.g., cottonwood or may make many of the 10 hair- streaks difficult to find. Many have Pearl crescent, as with NORTH DAKOTA GAME AND FISH DEPARTMENT allowing the caterpillar to grow more. aspen) and willow, occasion- ally ash and cherry. thin tails on the hindwing. all in this group, is asso- • Pupa (or “chrysalis” for butterflies and “cocoon” Look for striped hairstreaks along BRYAN E. REYNOLDS ciated with asters. for moths), the caterpillar transforms into a butterfly Black Swallowtails Striped Hairstreak BRYAN E. REYNOLDS within its pupa. edges of woodlands where oak Anglewings and The swallowtails being more trees are present. Tortoiseshells Mourning Cloak • An adult emerges from the pupae. Depending on black can be lumped into the species, some adults may overwinter and live for this group. About four “black Blues The irregular wing pattern BUTTERFLIES, MOTHS, DRAGONFLIES AND DAMSELFLIES DRAGONFLIES MOTHS, BUTTERFLIES, up to a year; others may live only for a week or two. swallowtails” in ND. As the name of the group is obvious on the 10 spe- cies in this group. Overwin- The NDGFD receives federal financial assistance from the US Fish and Wildlife Many species do not migrate and spend the ND winter Black swallowtail caterpil- implies, males are blue but Service. In accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 in any of the forms above. females more gray or brown. Up ter as adults. of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act lars feed on plants of the dill of 1990, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and Title IX of the Education family, including garden dill to 12 species of blues in ND. The mourning cloak is Amendments of 1972, the NDGFD joins the US Department of the Interior and its SKIPPERS and carrots. Adult Black Swallowtail Melissa blues are bivoltine, usually the first butterfly Bureaus in prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, seen in the spring, some- age, disability, sex (in education programs or activities) and also religion for the Small to medium (3/4-1.5 inch wingspan) butterflies that meaning they have two broods NDGFD. If you believe you have been discriminated against in any program, per year, the first in mid-June times when there is still activity, or facility as described above, or you desire further information, please at first glance may appear to be a moth. Plump bodies, large snow on the ground. write to: ND Game and Fish Department, Attn: Chief Administrative Services, eyes and rapid flights. Roughly 42 species in ND. and another in mid-August. Melissa Blue Female 100 N. Bismarck Expressway, Bismarck, ND 58501-5095 or to: US Fish and The Eastern comma has a Wildlife Service, Attn: Civil Rights Coordinator, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Mail clear comma mark on the Stop: MBSP- 4020, Arlington, Virginia 22203. The TTY/TTD (Relay ND) number Eastern Comma for the hearing or speech impaired is 1-800-366-6888. underwing. 0 INCHES DARNERS Thistle Butterflies MOTHS Tiger Moths The widow skimmer, Four- The four species in this Moths belong to the same order as butterflies, Lepidoptera. This group of moths typically Darners are big (over 2.5 spotted skimmer, twelve-spot- REFERENCES AND RESOURCES group migrate south in the Worldwide about 160,000 moth species have been identified have “hairy” caterpillars. inches long), often perch verti- ted skimmer, and common Books or Articles fall as they cannot survive ND cally on vegetation, and are whitetail are medium-sized, but it is thought many more exist. More than 1,000 species have The wooly bear is the larval Butterflies of North Dakota: an atlas and guide. winters. extraordinary predators. They black and white dragonflies. been found in ND. Moths are often perceived as pests, but many form of the Isabella tiger moth.