Viceroy (Limenitis archippus) photo by Mark Trainor Common Fall Though smaller, or- of St. Marks National ange viceroys resem- ble monarchs and Wildlife Refuge queens. It flies by Where Wildlife Comes First! flapping while mon- archs and queens ap- pear to glide. They have an extra trans- verse vein on the hindwing. Wingspan: 2.6 – 3.2 inches. Lar- Zebra Longwing ( charithonia) photo by val host plants are willows and sometimes poplars. Gayla Kittendorf The zebra longwing is ’s state . Usu- ally not found in open areas, the zebra longwing pre- fers shaded areas. This tropical species it cannot en- dure cold temperatures. Wingspan: 2.9 – 3.5 inches. Larval plants are passion vine species.

Long-tailed Skipper (Urbanus proteus) photo by Teresa Darragh Abundant long-tailed skippers resemble a small swal- lowtail. A quick, low flight carries them between nec- tar sources; along disturbed edge. This butterfly mi- PO Box 68 grates each fall to Florida. Wingspan: 1.5 – 2 inches. St. Marks, FL 32355 Larval host include legumes and are www.fws.gov/saintmarks/ sometimes considered a crop pest. 850-925-6121 Please return this brochure to the box for others Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia) photo by Terresa Pollinator Resources: to use. Darragh www.flmnh.ufl.edu/wildflower Buckeyes are easily identified from the large eye- www.naba.org Collecting or taking any plants, , or spots which deter predators. Look for it in open, - www.kidsbutterfly.org artifacts from federal lands is prohibited. sunny locations with low-growing vegetation. Buck- http://www.fws.gov/pollinators/Index.html eyes cannot survive freezing temperatures and mi- http://www.monarchwatch.org/waystations/ Monarch courtesy Sandra Muldrow grate south to overwinter along the Gulf coast. http://www.pollinator.org/ Long-tailerd skipper courtesy Mark Trainor Field Guide to Butterflies of North America – Kenn Kauf- Zebra Longwing courtesy Teresa Darragh Wingspan: 5.5 – 2.7 inches. Larval plants are toad- Printing paid by St. Marks Refuge Association flax, false foxglove, plantain, and twinflower. man and Jim Brock Butterflies of Florida – Jaret. C. Daniels Butterflies are among our most ad- mired . Their diverse color patterns help them identify mates as they fly about during the day, seeking energy from -rich flow- ers. Moths, more active at night, bear plainer colors and usually depend on odor rather than color to locate mates. Because of our temper- ate and subtropical climates, Florida is home to more than 180 species of butterfly and 4,000 species of moths. Monarch (Danaus plexippus) photo by Y Wang Butterflies and moths have complex Adults migrate thousands of miles from Canada and life cycles. Both feed on a variety of flowers primarily overwinter in one area in . Adults but females lay their eggs on or near host have a wingspan of 3.5-4” and exhibit slow and sail- Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae) photo by Virginia D. ing flight. On the refuge they congregate along the plants specific for their caterpillars. Caterpillars Craig coastline feeding on saltbush, goldenrod and dotted cannot survive on the wrong plant so it is vital- Cloudless sulphurs are the most common sulphur in our re- horsemint. Larvae feed on milkweed, where they ly important to make sure host plants are a gion, where it flies most of the year with a strong, rapid flight. acquire toxins which protect them and adults. The part of your garden scheme. The Migrating butterflies appear driven and rarely pause. Cloud- monarch migration story continues to unfold. You grows larger through about five stages or in- less males are bright yellow above and females are variable can help the monarchs by planting a WayStation of stars, shedding its skin after each stage. The greenish white, bright yellow, pinkish or orange. Wingspan: nectar and milkweed plants. Wingspan: 3.5 – 4 inch- final stage for butterflies is the , or chrysa- 2.2 – 2.8 inches. Larval food plants are Senna ssp. es. Larval food plants are Mexican, white swamp, lis; the miracle of metamorphosis begins. After sandhill, and white vine milkweeds. a period of time, the pupa splits and an adult emerges. At this crucial time conditions must be right for the butterfly to unfurl and dry its wings. Then the cycle begins all over again. Homeowners can help all pollinators, and es- pecially butterflies, bees, and moths, by plant- ing native flowering and host plants and by limiting insecticide use.

Gulf Fritillary (Agraulis vanillae) photo by Gayla Kittendorf Queen (Danaus gilippus) photo by Tom Darragh Fritillaries fly year-round in frost free areas and Queens mimic monarchs in flight and appearance, but from spring to late fall elsewhere. This butterfly are more brownish than orange and lack the pro- produces multiple broods. They are fast flyers nounced black veins. Queen caterpillars feed on milk- well above the ground and like open spaces. weed. Queens fly all year in the southernmost areas in Orange fritillaries are often mistaken for mon- open habitat and may outnumber monarchs in Florida. archs, queens, and viceroys. The distinct silver Queen (Danaus gilippus) photo by Mark Trainor Adults are toxic to some predators. Wingspan: 3 – 3.5 marks on their underwings earned their nick- inches. Larval food plants are Mexican, white swamp, name of silverspot. Wingspan: 2.5 – 3 inches. sandhill, white vine, and sand vine milkweeds. Larval plants are passionvine species.