Sheridan’s green hairstreak Pearl crescent (Phyciodes tharos) beautiful to look at is actually a warn- (Callophrys sheridanii) The male butterfly has black an- ing to predators they are foul tasting Known as Wyoming’s state but- tennal knobs. The top of the wings and poisonous. 1terfly with its distinctive bright-green 4are orange with black borders. Some Alexandra’s sulphur (Colias coloring, this butterfly can be found can be seen with black lines cross- alexandra) wherever the sulphur-flower is. This ing along the wings. The bottom side The male butterfly has bright is one of the earliest to emerge in has dark patches with a light-colored 7yellow wings with pale yellow at the Wyoming and signifies the start of crescent. Small batches of eggs are bases. The wings are edged with a spring. laid on the underside of the caterpillar narrow black border crossed by yel- host plant’s leaves. Two tailed swallowtail (Papilio low veins. The females are yellow multicaudata) Painted lady (Vanessa cardui) but can sometimes be white. The With distinctive yellow and black The topside of these butterflies front wing border is faded or nonexis- 2wings and thick black markings along are an orange-brown color with a tent. The female and male butterflies its wings, this butterfly can be found 5darker wing base. The front wing have a green-gray underside with a throughout the state. There are four will have patches of white, and the white cell spot. These butterflies can black stripes on each wing and spots back wings will have a row of five be found roaming fields, meadows, of blue along the bottom edge of the small black dots and sometimes blue sagebrush flats, and road edges. hind wing above the “tails.” These scales. The bottom of the wings are Cabbage white (Pieris rapae) butterflies are some of the largest in black, brown, and grey patterned. These butterflies are distin- the state and tend to fly in a leisurely These butterflies can be found almost guished by their white wings and manner, making them noticeable. anywhere, especially in open or dis- black tips. The female will have two turbed areas like gardens. Painted 8 Silvery blue (Glaucopsche igdamus) black spots while the male only has ladies migrate in large groups, and The tops of these butterflies are one. The bottom of the wings are sometimes they can be seen via distinct with a shiny light blue color- yellow-green or gray-green. They weather radar images. 3ing bordered by dark grey. The bot- feed on the nectar of a wide variety tom side is grey with a row of round, Monarch (Danaus plexippus) of plants like mustards, asters, mints, black-and-white trimmed spots. Some The “king” of butterflies are and dandelion. They like open space ants will “adopt” the larva of these known for their mass migrations to including weedy areas, gardens, sub- butterflies and protect them from 6two very small regions of California urbs, cities, and roadsides. Not native flies and wasps. These butterflies and Mexico to survive the winter. This to the United States, the caterpil- are quite small and are often noticed journey is up to 3,000 miles. These lars of the cabbage white can cause when the males “puddle” – visiting butterflies have distinct orange, black, damage to cole crops (such broccoli, water puddles for salts and minerals. and white wings. The color that is so cauliflower).
Katie Shockley is a student intern for the Barnyards and Backyards small-acreage project. A double major in management and agricultural communications, she is from Wheatland.
24 BARNYARDS & BACKYARDS Wikimedia Commons Shutterstock
Jessie Kate Shockley 1 2 Shutterstock
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