The Butterflies of Fort Washington State Park Fort Washington, Pennsylvania Compiled 1980 - 2011 by Richard W. Boscoe Published and distributed by The Militia Hill Hawk Watch in association with Wyncote Audubon Total Number of Species - 62 Swallowtails (Papilionidae) - 5 Whites and Sulphurs (Pieridae) - 5 Brush-footed Butterflies Nymphalidae( ) - 18 Hairstreaks, Coppers, Blues, and Harvesters (Lycaenidae) - 13 Skippers (Hesperiidae) - 21 0912
H: Host, OS: Overwinter & Status, BF: Broods & Flights + Comments Swallowtails Cloudless Sulphur Viceroy Comma Papilionidae Phoebis sennae Limenitis archippus Polygonia comma H: sennas Senna, Chamaecrista, H: willow Salix H: Elm Ulmus americana, Pipevine Swallowtail host plant found elsewhere OS: Part-grown larva Stinging Nettle Urtica dioica Battus philenor OS: Migrant in late summer, does BF: Three broods, late May into OS: Adults hibernate H: Pipevine Aristolochia not breed June, mid-July to early August BF: Multiple broods, late May serpentaria, does not occur in BF: September. Rare in FWSP. and early September - October. Adult hibernators FWSP appear in late March into OS: Pupa Little Sulphur Red Spotted Purple April. Pronounced seasonal BF: Two broods, May into June Eurema lisa Limenitis arthemis astyanax dimorphism, hibernators are and August. Rare stray. H: Sensitive Plant Chamaecrista H: Wild Cherry Prunus serotina, much paler than summer nictitans willow Salix individuals. Black Swallowtail OS: Migrant, does not overwinter OS: Part-grown larva Compton Tortoise Shell Papilio polyxenes BF: August - September. Rare BF: Three broods, late May into H: Queen Anne’s Lace Daucus stray in FWSP. Breeding in June, mid-July to early August Nymphalis vau-album carota, Parsnip Pastinaca 2007. and early September H: In this area (if breeding) Elm sativa Ulmus americana is most likely. OS: Pupa Cabbage Butterfly Buckeye Elsewhere willows Salix, aspen BF: Multiple broods, late April into Pieris rapae Junonia coenia Populus and birch Betula. September H: Winter Cress Barbarea H: Plantain Plantago lanceolata OS: Adults hibernate, this is vulgaris, Garlic Mustard Alliaria OS: Migratory, does not essentially a northern species Giant Swallowtail officinalis overwinter in this area which periodically expands its OS: Pupa BF: Multiple broods, June into range Papilio cresphontes BF: One brood, emerges in H: Prickly Ash Zanthoxylum BF: Multiple broods, late March - October late June, flies into October. americanum, does not occur in early April into October. Larvae Hibernators appear in late FWSP will eat many mustards, both Red Admiral March through April. Fond of OS: Pupa wild and cultivated. Vanessa atalanta sapflows. First seen in FWSP BF: Two broods, May into June H: Stinging Nettle Urtica dioica in September 1995. Not seen and August. Very rare stray, OS: Adults hibernate/migrate Monarchs since the late 1990’s. seen once. Danainae BF: Multiple broods, June - September. Adult hibernators/ Mourning Cloak Tiger Swallowtail migrants appear in May. Monarch Nymphalis antiopa Papilio glaucus H: willow Salix, elm Ulmus H: Wild Cherry Prunus serotina, Danaus plexippus Painted Lady H: milkweeds Asclepias americana perhaps also Tulip Poplar Vanessa cardui OS: Migratory, does not OS: Adults hibernate Liriodendron tulipifera H: thistles Cirsium overwinter in this area BF: Number of broods uncertain, OS: Pupa OS: Migratory, does not BF: Multiple broods, June to perhaps only one emerging in BF: Two broods, May into early overwinter in this area September June. Hibernators appear in June, late July into early BF: Migrants arrive in May then late March through April. September multiple broods June into Brush-footed Butterflies September. Sporadic, not Pearl Crescent Spicebush Swallowtail Nymphalidae present in most years. Papilio troilus Phyciodes tharos H: asters Aster H: Spicebush Lindera benzoin, Little Wood Satyr American Painted Lady OS: Part-grown larva Sassafras Sassafras albidum Vanessa virginiensis Megisto cymela BF: Multiple broods, mid-May OS: Pupa H: Pussytoes Antennaria H: grasses through September BF: Two broods, May into June, OS: Part-grown larva OS: Adults hibernate/migrate late July into early September BF: One brood, mid-June through BF: Multiple broods, June - Meadow Fritillary August. Adult hibernators/ July Boloria bellona Whites & Sulphurs migrants appear in May. Hackberry Butterfly H: violets Viola Pieridae Question Mark OS: Part-grown larva Asterocampa celtis Polygonia interrogationis BF: Multiple broods, mid-April H: Hackberry Celtis occidentalis through September Orange Sulphur H: Elm Ulmus americana, Colias eurytheme OS: Part-grown larva BF: Two broods, mid-June into Stinging Nettle Urtica dioica H: clover Trifolium, Sweet White Variegated Fritillary early July and mid-August into OS: Adults hibernate Clover Melilotus alba, Crown Euptoieta claudia early September BF: Multiple broods, late May Vetch Coronilla varia - October. Adult hibernators H: violets Viola, in south passion OS: Part-grown larva appear in late March into flowerPassiflora BF: Multiple broods, April into Tawny Emperor April. Pronounced seasonal OS: Summer influx species, does October Asterocampa clyton dimorphism, hibernators are not overwinter H: Hackberry Celtis occidentalis much paler than summer BF: August - September, Common Sulphur OS: Part-grown larva individuals. occasional breeding is possible (Clouded) BF: Two broods, June, August. Great Spangled Fritillary Colias philodice Rare. H: clover Trifolium, Sweet White Speyeria cybele H: violets Viola Clover Melilotus alba OS: Unfed first instar larva OS: Part-grown larva BF: One brood, emerges in June BF: Multiple broods, April into and flies through September October H: Host, OS: Overwinter & Status, BF: Broods & Flights + Comments
Snout Butterfly Southern Hairstreak European Skipper Silver-Spotted Skipper Libytheana carinenta Fixsenia favonius ontario Thymelicus lineola Epargyreus clarus H: Hackberry Celtis occidentalis H: White Oak Quercus alba H: Timothy Grass Phleum H: Indigo Bush Amorpha OS: Migratory, does not OS: Egg pratense fruticosa, Hog Peanut overwinter in this area BF: One brood, late June. Adults OS: Egg Amphicarpa bracteata, Tick BF: Multiple broods, migrants visit milkweed and dogbane. BF: One brood, June Trefoils Desmodium arrive in June then into Extremely rare, seen only once OS: Pupa September (June 1980). Peck’s Skipper BF: Multiple broods, late May Polites peckius through September Hairstreaks, Coppers, Gray Hairstreak H: grasses e.g. Low Speargrass Strymon melinus Poa annua Long-Tailed Skipper Blues and Harvesters H: Larvae eat plants of many OS: Part-grown larva Urbanus proteus Lycaenidae families, mostly Tick Trefoils BF: Two broods, late May into H: Legumes including Tick Trefoils Desmodium in FWSP. Only mid-June, late July to early Desmodium and string bean Harvester flowers and seeds are eaten, September Phaseolus not leaves. OS: Migratory, does not Feniseca tarquinius H: Larva carnivorous, feeds OS: Pupa Tawny-Edged Skipper overwinter in this area on wooly aphids especially BF: Multiple broods, May through Polites themistocles BF: September, rare in FWSP. the alder aphid Prociphilus September. Commonest in late H: grasses e.g. Low Speargrass Can be a pest on cultivated tesselatus on Alder Alnus summer. Poa annua string beans in the far south. rugosa OS: Part-grown larva OS: Pupa American Copper BF: Two broods, late May into Juvenal’s Dusky Wing BF: Multiple broods, June into Lycaena phlaeas mid-June, late July to late Erynnis juvenalis September. Rare and sporadic H: Sheep Sorrel Rumex August H: White Oak Quercus alba, other in its occurence in FWSP. acetosella oaks elsewhere OS: Part-grown larva Cross-Line Skipper OS: Mature larva Coral Hairstreak BF: Multiple broods, early May Polites origenes BF: One brood, late April to late Satyrium titus into September H: Little Bluestem Grass May H: Wild Cherry Prunus serotina Andropogon scoparius OS: Egg Eastern Tailed Blue OS: Part-grown larva Horace’s Dusky Wing BF: One brood, late June to mid Everes comyntas BF: Two broods, late June to early Erynnis horatius July. Adults are very fond of H: Crown Vetch Coronilla varia July, mid-August into early H: oaks Quercus orange butterfly weed. and other vetches, clover September. Much less common OS: Mature larva Trifolium than Tawny-edged Skipper. BF: Two broods, late April into Striped Hairstreak OS: Mature larva May and July. Occasional in Satyrium liparops BF: Multiple broods, late April into Northern Broken Dash FWSP. H: hawthorn Crataegus September Wallengrenia egeremet Wild Indigo Dusky Wing OS: Egg H: Panic Grass Panicum BF: One brood, late June to mid Spring Azure lanuginosum Erynnis baptisiae July. Rare, adults visit milkweed Celastrina ladon OS: Part-grown larva H: Crown Vetch Coronilla varia, and dogbane. H: Dogwood Cornus, Cherryleaf BF: One brood, late June to Sweet White Clover Melilotus Virburnum Viburnum mid-July. Adults are fond of alba Hickory Hairstreak prunifolium. Larvae eat flowers, dogbane. OS: Mature larva not leaves. BF: At least two broods, late May Satyrium caryaevorus H: hickory Carya OS: Pupa Little Glassy Wing into June, July into September OS: Egg BF: One brood, April Pompeius verna Checkered Skipper BF: One brood, late June - early H: Purpletop Triodia flava July. Common as recently as Summer Azure OS: Part-grown larva Pyrgus communis 1982, now rare. Adults fond of Celastrina neglecta BF: One brood, late June. Adults H: Common Mallow Malva milkweed, dogbane and sweet H: Dogwood Cornus, Maple- are fond of milkweed. neglecta white clover. leaf Virburnum Viburnum OS: Mature larva, does not acerifolium, Green-headed Sachem survive winters in this area in Banded Hairstreak ConeflowerRudbeckia Atalopedes campestris most years Satyrium calanus laciniata, Wingstem H: grasses BF: Multiple broods, late May H: Black Walnut Juglans nigra Actinomeris alternifolia. Larvae OS: A late summer influx species, through September. Most often OS: Egg eat flowers, not leaves. does not overwinter in this area seen in late summer. BF: One brood, late June - early OS: Pupa BF: August, September. Adults July. Less common than BF: Multiple broods, Spring into are fond of thistle. Common Sooty Wing formerly. Adults visit same September Pholisora catullus flowers as Hickory Hairstreak. Delaware Skipper H: Pigweed Chenopodium album Skippers Anatrytone logan OS: Mature larva Red-banded Hairstreak Hesperiidae H: Panic Grass Panicum BF: Multiple broods, May through Calycopis cecrops lanuginosum September. Most often seen in H: Reared on Staghorn Sumac Swarthy Skipper OS: Part-grown larva disturbed areas in association Rhus typhina. Larvae are BF: One brood, early to mid-July. with its food plant. detritivores (feeds on rotting Nastra lherminier Adults are fond of thistle. H: Little Bluestem Grass leaves) Andropogon scoparius Historical OS: Part-grown larva, essentially Zabulon Skipper OS: Part-grown larva a southern species, near the Not seen in 20+ years BF: Two broods, June and mid- Poanes zabulon northern limit of its range. August to early September H: grasses, probably preferring Wood Nymph BF: Multiple broods, May into broad-bladed species Cercyonis pegala early September. Adults of the Least Skipper OS: Part-grown larva late summer brood are fond of BF: Two broods, late May H: grasses goldenrod. Ancyloxypha numitor into June and mid-August OS: Unfed first instar larva H: Wide-bladed grasses growing into September. Sexes are BF: One brood, late June through White M Hairstreak in wet ground e.g. Reed Grass dimorphic, females are dark. August Parrhasius m-album Phalaris arundinacea OS: Part-grown larva Hobomok Skipper H: White Oak Quercus alba Dun Skipper BF: Multiple broods, early June OS: Pupa, essentially a southern Poanes hobomok through September Euphyes vestris species H: sedges Carex H: grasses, probably Panicum BF: Three broods, late April - Fiery Skipper OS: Part-grown larva and Poa early May, late June - early BF: Two broods, mid to late June OS: Larva July and mid-August into early Hylephila phyleus and mid to late August BF: One brood, late May into September. Adults visit yarrow, H: grasses June. Adults are fond of Queen Anne’s Lace, milkweed, OS: Migratory, does not Dusted Skipper blackberry blossoms. dogbane and goldenrod. overwinter in this area BF: August, September. An Atrytonopsis hianna Hoary Edge H: Little Bluestem Grass occasional pest on lawn grass Achalarus lyciades in the far south. Andropogon scoparius OS: Mature larva H: Tick Trefoils Desmodium Notes: BF: One brood, late May to mid- OS: Mature larva June BF: One brood, June. Rare in FWSP.