Butterflies Duke Forest
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Butterfl y Life Cycle Warm Winter Days Adult female butterfl ies seek out specifi c “host” plants on which While most butterfl y species spend the winter as eggs, caterpil- to lay their eggs. Some species of butterfl ies will lay eggs on many lars, or chrysalises, a few butterfl ies actually overwinter as adults, kinds of plants, while other butterfl ies require one certain plant spe- “hibernating” under loose tree bark cies. The caterpillars (larvae) hatch from the eggs, feed on the host until warm sunny days appear. plant, and eventually form chrysalises (pupae). Inside the chrysalis, On such days, you may take a stroll a caterpillar metamorphoses (pupates) into an adult butterfl y. The in the Forest and look for spe- butterfl y then emerges and seeks mates, food, and host plants to cies like American Snout and the continue the cycle. “anglewings” (Mourning Cloak, Eastern Comma, Question Mark). Host Plants in Duke Forest Many different kinds of plants in the Duke Forest are used as host Identifi cation Tips plants, including oak and hickory trees (hairstreaks, duskywings), A good pair of close-focusing (to 6 feet or less) binoculars are hackberry trees (emperors, snouts, anglewings), milkweeds (Mon- very helpful for watching butterfl ies. Note the overall size, shape, Butterfl ies arch), violets (fritillaries), and various grasses and sedges (browns, colors, and pattern of the markings on the upperside and under- satyrs, many species of skippers). side if possible. Then consult a good fi eld guide such as Butterfl ies of the Through Binoculars: The East by Jeffrey Glassberg, or The Kaufman Nectar Plants in Duke Forest Focus Guide to Butterfl ies of North America by Jim Brock and Kenn While many species of butterfl ies breed in the Duke Forest, others Kaufman. Be sure to also note the time of year and consult this Duke Forest simply pass through in search of fl ower nectar or other resources. checklist to see which species are expected that season. Here are some examples of fl owers that are good nectar sources for butterfl ies in the Duke Forest: Butterfl y Collecting Collecting in Duke Forest is by permit only. Please contact the Butterfl ies (and moths) are classifi ed by scientists as insects in Spring Offi ce of the Duke Forest at 919-613-8013. the order Lepidoptera (meaning “scaly-winged”). Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis) At least 81 species of butterfl ies have been Blackberries (Rubus spp.) recorded in the Duke Forest. This is nearly Acknowledgements half of all butterfl y species regularly Summer Designed, developed and edited by Jeffrey S. Pippen (Nicholas occurring in the State of North Car- Elephant’s-foot (Elephantopus spp.) School of the Environment and Earth Sciences, Duke University). olina! Butterfl ies depend on plants, Dogbane (Apocynum cannabinum) Data compiled from Notes of the Butterfl ies of North Carolina, 12th and the diversity of vegetation and Coreopsis (Coreopsis spp.) Approximation by Harry LeGrand and Tom habitats in the Duke Forest results in a Mountain-mint (Pycnanthemum spp.) Howard <http://www.ncsparks.net/butterfl y/ high diversity of butterfl ies. Milkweeds (Asclepias spp.) nbnc.html> with additional fi eld surveys by Jeffrey S. Pippen. Contributing consultants: Tips for fi nding butterfl ies in Duke Forest Tom Howard (NC State Parks), Will Cook Fall •Warm and sunny -- Look for them on warm, sunny days. Be- (Duke University), Amy Chapman-Braun Asters (Aster spp.) cause butterfl ies cannot generate much body heat on their own, (Duke University) and Harry LeGrand Blazing-stars (Liatris spp. ) they are generally active only when it’s warm and at least some- (NC Natural Heritage Program). Sneezeweeds (Helenium spp.) what sunny. Goldenrods (Solidago spp.) All photos in this brochure by •Flowers -- Look closely at fl owers. Many species of butterfl ies Jeffrey S. Pippen. Flight times can be easily observed while they’re sipping nectar (“nectaring”) Different species of butterfl ies are found at different times of the from fl owers. year. Some butterfl ies complete their life cycles multiple times in a This brochure was made possible by grants from The Mary Duke •Mud, stream banks, scat, and rotting fruit -- Some species of single year, having several broods. Adults of these species (Eastern Biddle Foundation, The Offi ce of the Vice Provost for Academic butterfl ies may prefer to get their food and moisture requirements Tiger Swallowtails, for example) can be found from spring into fall as Research at Duke University, and the Offi ce of the Duke Forest. one brood blends into another. from these alternate sources. Other species may have only one (e.g., Banded Hairstreak) or two Please report any noteworthy butterfl y sightings to the Offi ce of the •Dirt roads & trails -- During the morning hours, butterfl ies are (e.g., Red-banded Hairstreak) broods per year and, therefore, will be Duke Forest (919-613-8013). found only during specifi c times of the year. This checklist shows often found basking on sunny patches on dirt roads. these “fl ight times” for all species found in the Duke Forest. This information can help you distinguish between two confusing spe- •Open areas -- Butterfl ies are most often found where the sun cies if their fl ight times differ (Juvenal’s and Horace’s Duskywings, shines in open areas such as wide trails, roadsides, powerline cor- for example). ridors, fi elds, and stream banks. They are found less often in shade. Duke Forest Butterfl y Checklist Abundance Designations: determined monthly and based on proper habitat FebMar AprMay Jun Jul AugSep OctNov FebMar AprMay Jun Jul AugSep OctNov Spring Azure Southern Cloudywing Abundant: Easily seen and often in large numbers (Celastrina ladon) (Thorybes bathyllus) Common: Usually seen Summer Azure Northern Cloudywing Uncommon: Usually present in low numbers, but not always seen (Celastrina neglecta) (Thorybes pylades) Rare/Local: Not usually seen; may be known from only 1 or 2 locales Confused Cloudywing Very Rare: Known only from less than ten records BRUSHFOOTS (Thorybes confuses) American Snout Sleepy Duskywing SWALLOWTAILS FebMar AprMay Jun Jul AugSep OctNov (Libytheana carinenta) (Erynnis brizo) Pipevine Swallowtail Gulf Fritillary Juvenal’s Duskywing (Battus philenor) (Agraulis vanillae) (Erynnis juvenalis) Zebra Swallowtail Variegated Fritillary Horace’s Duskywing (Eurytides marcellus) (Euptoieta claudia) (Erynnis horatius) Black Swallowtail Great Spangled Fritillary Zarucco Duskywing (Papilio polyxenes) (Speyeria cybele) (Erynnis zarucco) Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Silvery Checkerspot Common Checkered-Skipper (Papilio glaucus) (Chlosyne nycteis) (Pyrgus communis) Spicebush Swallowtail Pearl Crescent (Papilio troilus) (Phyciodes tharos) GRASS SKIPPERS Question Mark Swarthy Skipper WHITES & SULPHURS (Polygonia interrogationis) (Nastra lherminier) Cabbage White Eastern Comma Clouded Skipper (Pieris rapae) (Polygonia comma) (Lerema accius) Falcate Orangetip Mourning Cloak Least Skipper (Anthocharis midea) (Nymphalis antiopa) (Ancyloxypha numitor) Clouded Sulphur American Lady Fiery Skipper (Colias philodice) (Vanessa virginiensis) (Hylephila phyleus) Orange Sulphur Painted Lady Tawny-edged Skipper (Colias eurytheme) (Vanessa cardui) (Polites themistocles) Cloudless Sulphur Red Admiral Crossline Skipper (Phoebis sennae) (Vanessa atalanta) (Polites origenes) Little Yellow Common Buckeye Southern Broken-Dash (Eurema lisa) (Junonia coenia) (Wallengrenia otho) Sleepy Orange Red-spotted Purple Northern Broken-Dash (Eureme niccipe) (Limenitis arthemis) (Wallengrenia egeremet) Viceroy Little Glassywing GOSSAMER-WINGS (Limenitis archippus) (Pompeius verna) Harvester Hackberry Emperor Sachem (Feniseca tarquinius) (Asterocampa celtis) (Atalopedes campestris) Great Purple Hairstreak Tawny Emperor Delaware Skipper (Atlides halesus) (Asterocampa clyton) (Anatrytone logan) Coral Hairstreak Northern Pearly-eye Zabulon Skipper (Satyrium titus) (Enodia anthedon) (Poanes Zabulon) Banded Hairstreak Appalachian Brown Dion Skipper (Satyrium calanus) (Satyrodes appalachia) (Euphyes dion) Striped Hairstreak Gemmed Satyr Dun Skipper (Satyrium liparops) (Cyllopsis gemma) (Euphyes vestries) Oak Hairstreak Carolina Satyr Dusted Skipper (Satyrium favonius) (Hermeuptychia sosybius) (Atrytonopsis hianna) Henry’s Elfi n Little Wood-Satyr Pepper and Salt Skipper (Callophrys henrici) (Megisto cymela) (Amblyscirtes hegon) Eastern Pine Elfi n Common Wood-Nymph Common Roadside-Skipper (Callophrys niphon) (Megisto cymela) (Amblyscirtes vialis) Juniper Hairstreak Monarch Eufala Skipper (Callophrys gryneus) (Danaus plexippus) (Lerodea eufala) White M Hairstreak Ocola Skipper (Parrhasius m-album) SPREADWING SKIPPERS (Panoquina ocola) Gray Hairstreak Silver-spotted Skipper (Strymon melinus) (Epargyreus clarus) Several species of butterfl ies are known from Durham and Orange Red-banded Hairstreak Long-tailed Skipper Counties but have net yet been recorded in the Duke Forest, including: (Calycopis cecrops) (Urbanus proteus) Brown Elfi n, Wild Indigo Duskywing, Hayhurst’s Scallopwing, Common Eastern Tailed-Blue Hoary Edge Sootywing, and Cobweb Skipper. Be on the lookout! (Everes comyntas) (Achalarus lyciades).