Birds of WNY | Butterflies of WNY | Raising Monarchs | Lake Ontario Ships | Musical Instuments | Pairs/Concentration | Solitaire/Klondike | Crossword Puzzle | PONG! | Diaries
Butterflies of Monroe County
Webster's backyard
A few examples of butterflies that can be found in backyards throughout Monroe county. We hope to add more next summer. All photos taken in Webster.
Nymphalidae ~ Brush-footed Butterflies
Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus)
Caterpillar Hosts: Milkweeds including common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata), and showy milkweed (Asclepias speciosa).
More Photos | bm | w
a female Monarch Butterfly
Viceroy Butterfly (Limenitis archippus)
Caterpillar Hosts: Trees in the willow family, including willows (Salix), poplars and cottonwoods (Populus).
Painted Lady Butterfly (Vanessa cardui)
Caterpillar Hosts: Multiple plants of the Asteraceae species, including Cirsium, Helianthus, and Artemisia.
More Photos | bm | w
Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
Caterpillar Hosts: Several species of smooth-leaved true asters including Symphyotrichum pilosum and Symphyotrichum laeve.
Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia)
Caterpillar Hosts: Multiple plants in the violet family (Viola), plus the may apple (Podophyllum peltata), and moonseed (Menispermum canadense).
Little Wood Satyr (Megisto cymela)
Caterpillar Hosts: Orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata) and centipede grass (Eremochloa ophiuroides).
Question Mark (Polygonia interrogationis)
Caterpillar Hosts: American elm (Ulmus americanus), red elm (Ulmus rubra), and false nettle (Boehmeria cylindrica).
Papilionidae ~ Parnassians and Swallowtails
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus)
Caterpillar Hosts: Leaves of various plants including wild cherry (Prunus serotina), sweetbay (Magnolia virginiana), basswood (Tilia americana), tulip tree (Liriodendron), birch (Betula), ash (Fraxinus), cottonwood (Populus), and willow (Salix).
More Photos | bm | w
Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes)
Caterpillar Hosts: Leaves of plants in the parsley family (Apiaceae) including Queen Anne's Lace, carrot, celery and dill.
Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus)
Caterpillar Hosts: Primaily the Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) and Sassafras trees (Sassafras albidum).
Lycaenidae ~ Gossamer-wing Butterflies
Eastern Tailed-Blue (Cupido comyntas)
Caterpillar Hosts: Members of the pea family including yellow sweet clover (Melilotus officinalis), alfalfa (Medicago sativa); various species of vetch (Vicia), clover (Trifolium), wild pea (Lathyrus), and bush clover (Lespedeza); and others.
Pieridae ~ Whites and Sulphurs
Orange Sulphur Butterfly (Colias eurytheme)
Caterpillar Hosts: Members of the pea family including alfalfa (Medicago sativa), white clover (Trifolium repens), and white sweet clover (Melilotus alba).
Clouded Sulphur Butterfly (Colias philodice)
Caterpillar Hosts: Members of the pea family including alfalfa (Medicago sativa), white clover (Trifolium repens), and pea (Pisum sativum).
Hesperiidae ~ Skippers
Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus)
Caterpillar Hosts: Many woody legumes including black locust (Robinia pseudacacia), and false indigo (Amorpha fruticosa).
Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus)
Caterpillar Hosts: Caterpillar Hosts: Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon), crabgrass (Digitaria), and other grasses.
WEBSTER MUSEUM AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY
18 Lapham Park Webster, New York 14580 585.265.3308
