Webster Museum

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

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

Monarch Butterfly
Viceroy Butterfly

Viceroy Butterfly (Limenitis archippus)

Caterpillar Hosts: Trees in the willow family, including willows (Salix), poplars and cottonwoods (Populus).

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Painted Lady Butterfly

Painted Lady Butterfly (Vanessa cardui)

Caterpillar Hosts: Multiple plants of the Asteraceae species, including Cirsium, Helianthus, and Artemisia.

More Photos | bm | w

Painted Lady Butterfly Painted Lady Butterfly
Pearl Crescent

Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)

Caterpillar Hosts: Several species of smooth-leaved true asters including Symphyotrichum pilosum and Symphyotrichum laeve.

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Variegated Fritillary

Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia)

Caterpillar Hosts: Multiple plants in the violet family (Viola), plus the may apple (Podophyllum peltata), and moonseed (Menispermum canadense).

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Little Wood Satyr

Little Wood Satyr (Megisto cymela)

Caterpillar Hosts: Orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata) and centipede grass (Eremochloa ophiuroides).

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Question Mark

Question Mark (Polygonia interrogationis)

Caterpillar Hosts: American elm (Ulmus americanus), red elm (Ulmus rubra), and false nettle (Boehmeria cylindrica).

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Papilionidae ~ Parnassians and Swallowtails

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

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

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Black Swallowtail

Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes)

Caterpillar Hosts: Leaves of plants in the parsley family (Apiaceae) including Queen Anne's Lace, carrot, celery and dill.

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Spicebush Swallowtail

Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus)

Caterpillar Hosts: Primaily the Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) and Sassafras trees (Sassafras albidum).

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Lycaenidae ~ Gossamer-wing Butterflies

Eastern Tailed-Blue

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.

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Pieridae ~ Whites and Sulphurs

Orange Sulphur

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).

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Clouded Sulphur

Clouded Sulphur Butterfly (Colias philodice)

Caterpillar Hosts: Members of the pea family including alfalfa (Medicago sativa), white clover (Trifolium repens), and pea (Pisum sativum).

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Hesperiidae ~ Skippers

Silver-spotted Skipper

Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus)

Caterpillar Hosts: Many woody legumes including black locust (Robinia pseudacacia), and false indigo (Amorpha fruticosa).

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Fiery Skipper

Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus)

Caterpillar Hosts: Caterpillar Hosts: Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon), crabgrass (Digitaria), and other grasses.

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18 Lapham Park Webster, New York 14580 585.265.3308

Webster Museum