A Comprehensive Annotated List of the Butterflies
Little Missouri National Grassland Butterfly Survey
The Brush-footed Butterflies
Variegated Fritillary Euptoieta claudia (Cramer), 1775 Habitat: Southern migrant, often common in open prairies Larval food: A wide range of seemingly unrelated plant spp., incl. Viola, Portulaca, Desmodium, Menispermum Adult flight: Continuous breeder arriving in May, often abundant by fall References: Royer 62, Opler & Krizek 130, Scott 335 Confirmed occurrences: Intermittent throughout 1995 season on BCV transect and elsewhere in S13 T136N R102W, also 10 Jul through 18 Aug on Summit transect S001 and elsewhere in S24 T147N R99W; one example 9 Jul 1996 on Summit transect S001; one example 9 Jul 1996 on Summit transect S002. Great Spangled Fritillary Speyeria cybele (Fabricius), 1775 Habitat: Woodland margins, often nectaring Cirsium, Monarda or Liatris Larval food: Viola spp. (larva overwinters shortly after eclosure) Adult flight: Late June into early August References: Royer 63, Opler & Krizek 132, Scott 325 Confirmed occurrences: 17 Aug 1995 in S13 T136N R102W; 18 and 25 Jul 1995 on Summit transect S001 and in Blue Buttes; occasional on both Summit transects from early Jul through mid-Aug 1996. Aphrodite Fritillary Speyeria aphrodite (Fabricius), 1787 Habitat: Open meadows, nectars at Cirsium, Monarda, Liatris, males patrol continuously when not taking nectar or resting Larval food: Viola spp. (larva overwinters shortly after eclosure) Adult flight: Late June into early August, depending on location References: Royer 63, Opler & Krizek 133, Scott 324 Confirmed occurrences: Common on BCV transect and throughout S13 T136N R102W from 19 Jun through 17 Aug; widespread 10 Jul to 1 Aug 1995 on Summit transect S001 and elsewhere in S24 T147N R99W and Blue Buttes; occasional on both Summit transects from early Jul through mid-Aug 1996. Regal Fritillary Speyeria idalia (Drury), 1773 Habitat: Native prairies in southeastern ND; nectars at Asclepias, Cirsium, Liatris; males patrol continuously when not taking nectar or basking; females range widely and delay egg laying until late August Larval food: Viola pedata (larva overwinters shortly after eclosure) Adult flight: Late June (males) through August (females dominating) References: Royer 63, Opler & Krizek 133, Scott 324 Confirmed occurrences: Two females along BCV campground road in S13 T136N R102W; one male in road by Summit Campground shelters, 9 Jul 1996 (most northwestern record for this species, county record for McKenzie). Edwards' Fritillary Speyeria edwardsii (Reakirt), 1866 Habitat: Native prairies in southwestern ND; nectars avidly at Cirsium Larval food: Viola spp. (larva overwinters in 1st stage) Adult flight: Mid-June into July (earlier than other Speyeria spp.) References: Royer 64, Ferris & Brown 304, Scott 335 Confirmed occurrences: Common throughout badlands in 1995; two examples on 9 Jul 1996 on Summit transect S002. Callippe Fritillary Speyeria callippe (Boisduval), 1852 Habitat: Native prairies; nectars avidly at Medicago, Cirsium Larval food: Viola spp. (larva overwinters in 1st stage) Adult flight: Mid-June into July (earlier than most Speyeria spp.) References: Royer 64, Ferris & Brown 307, Scott 329 Confirmed occurrences: Common throughout badlands in 1995; scarce in 1996. Silver-bordered Fritillary Clossiana selene (Denis & Schiffermüller), 1775 Habitat: Wet meadows, marshes, lake margins, often with woody growth (Salix, Cornus); males are incessant fliers Larval food: Viola spp. (larva overwinters in 2nd- 4th stage) Adult flight: Two broods, May and July References: Royer 64, Ferris & Brown 307, Scott 329 Confirmed occurrences: Not reported from Little Missouri National Grassland in 1995 or 1996, but on record intermittently throughout badlands, and could occur in moist areas or pond margins where there is a growth of Viola spp. Gorgone Checkerspot Charidryas gorgone (Hübner), 1810 Habitat: Dry prairies, disturbed fields, roadsides; favors mud puddles Larval food: Helianthus spp. (larva overwinters in 3rd stage) Adult flight: Two broods, June and August References: Royer 66, Opler & Krizek 140, Scott 303 Confirmed occurrences: 5 Jun and 17 Jul 1995 in S11 T136N R102W; 5 and 6 Jun 1995 on Summit transect S001 and elsewhere in S24 T147N R99W; occasional on both Summit transects, 5 & 18 Jun 1996. Acastus Checkerspot Charidryas acastus (W. H. Edwards), 1874 Habitat: Riparian canyons, meadows, mudslides in badlands Larval food: Asteraceae, incl. Aster, Helianthus, Actinomeris, etc. Adult flight: Two broods, May-June and July-August References: Royer 68, Ferris & Brown 323, Scott 306 (under gabbii) Confirmed occurrences: 19 Jun 1995 on BCV transect and elsewhere in S13 T136N R102W; 5 Jun (brood one) through 1 Aug (brood two) on Summit transect S001 and elsewhere in S24 T147N R99W; rare on Summit transect S001, 18 Jun 1996; occasional second brood examples on 28 Jul 1996 along Summit transect S002. Pearl Crescent Phyciodes tharos (Drury), 1773 Habitat: Sunny places, roadsides, widespread Larval food: Aster spp. Adult flight: Multiple broods; May, June-July, August-September References: Royer 69, Opler & Krizek 145, Scott 311 Confirmed occurrences: 5 Jun 1995 on BCV transect; 24 and 31 Jul 1995 on BCV transect and elsewhere in S13 T136N R102W; continuous throughout 1995 season on Summit transect S001 and elsewhere in S24 T147N R99W. (While it is on record, reports of P. pascoensis from the badlands are questionable.) Occasional on both Summit transects throughout 1996 season. Tawny Crescent Phyciodes batesii (Reakirt), 1865 Habitat: Woodland roadsides, usually near bluestem prairie; males patrol moist areas in search of mates; avidly nectars Apocynum; synchronous with Poanes hobomok, Pterourus canadensis, Epargyreus clarus, with which it frequently shares nectar sites; also avidly nectars Euphorbia poderae. Larval food: Aster spp., probably A. simplex in ND Adult flight: One brood, usually emerges first week in June References: Royer 69, Opler & Krizek 147, Scott 309 Confirmed occurrences: Not reported in 1995, but encountered on 29 Jun 1996 at 400 meter flag on Summit transect S002 and at 460 meters on Summit transect S001. Comma Polygonia comma (Harris), 1842 Habitat: Shady woodlands, sunlit patches late afternoon; adults drink running sap and juices of rotting fruit Larval food: Urtica spp., possibly also Ulmus Adult flight: Overwinters as adult, appearing April-May to produce a dark-winged summer form by late June. These in turn produce a second, light-winged, overwintering brood in August. References: Royer 71, Opler & Krizek 151, Scott 284 Confirmed occurrences: 18 and 25 Jul on Summit transect S001 and elsewhere in S24 T147N R99W; 19 May, 5 Jun and 9 Jul 1996 on Summit transect S001. Gray Comma Polygonia progne (Cramer), 1776 Habitat: Deciduous woodlands, sunlit patches late afternoon; adults drink running sap and juices of rotting fruit Larval food: Ribes spp. Adult flight: Overwinters as adult, appearing April-May to produce a dark-winged summer form by late June. These in turn produce a second, light-winged, overwintering brood in August. References: Royer 73, Opler & Krizek 154, Scott 287 Confirmed occurrences: Not reported from Little Missouri National Grassland in 1995 or 1996, but on record from McKenzie, Dunn, Billings and Slope Counties, and therefore could be encountered anywhere in the badlands in appropriate wooded localities. (While both P. zephyrus and P. satyrus are on record for the badlands, the accuracy of records and prospect for resident status of these two species are highly questionable.) Compton Tortoise Shell Nymphalis vau-album (Denis & Schiffermüller), 1775 Habitat: Mature forests; adults drink sap and rotting fruit juices Larval food: Populus, Betula, Salix spp. Adult flight: Overwinters as adult, appearing April-May to produce a single annual brood by early July. The species is episodic and somewhat migratory, being rare for several years, then suddenly common. References: Royer 74, Opler & Krizek 155, Scott 290 Confirmed occurrences: Not reported from Little Missouri National Grassland in 1995 or 1996, but on record from Dunn and Slope Counties. Somewhat migratory, fluctuating widely in numbers from year to year. Could be encountered anywhere in the badlands in appropriate wooded localities in a given year. Mourning Cloak Nymphalis antiopa (Linnaeus), 1758 Habitat: Riparian forests; adults drink Quercus sap and fermenting fruit juices, and occasionally the nectar of such flowers as Asclepias, Apocynum, etc. Larval food: Salix spp. primarily, but also Populus, Betula, Ulmus Adult flight: Overwinters as adult, appearing April-May to produce a single annual brood by early July. Partially southward migratory; adults live nearly a year References: Royer 74, Opler & Krizek 156, Scott 291 Confirmed occurrences: 17 Jul 1995 on BCV transect and elsewhere in S13 T136N R102W; 25 Jul 1995 in Blue Buttes; 7 Aug 1996 on Summit transect S001. Milbert's Tortoise Shell Aglais milberti (Godart), 1819 Habitat: Widespread across the state in autumn Larval food: Urtica and Salix spp. also possibly Helianthus Adult flight: Confused; one to four broods reported; probably two in ND References: Royer 75, Opler & Krizek 157, Scott 289 Confirmed occurrences: Not reported from Little Missouri National Grassland in 1995 or 1996, but on record from Dunn, Slope, and Bowman Counties. Somewhat migratory, fluctuating widely in numbers from year to year. Could be encountered anywhere in the badlands in a given year. American Painted Lady Vanessa virginiensis (Drury), 1773 Habitat: Open prairies and meadows Larval food: Antennaria; probably other everlastings Adult flight: Sporadic spring immigrant, mostly to southern counties; does not survive winter References: Royer 75, Opler & Krizek 158, Scott 283 Confirmed occurrences: Not reported from Little Missouri National Grassland in 1995 or 1996, but as a southern immigrant that rarely does reach ND, it could be encountered anywhere in the badlands in open areas in a favorable year. Painted Lady Vanessa cardui (Linnaeus), 1758 Habitat: Open prairies, roadsides and meadows Larval food: Cirsium primarily; also Helianthus, many other composites Adult flight: Frequent spring immigrant; does not survive winter References: Royer 76, Opler & Krizek 159, Scott 289 Confirmed occurrences: 24 Jul, 31 Jul and 17 Aug 1995 on transect and in S13 T136N R102W; 10 Jul through 17 Aug on Summit transect S001 and in S24 T147N R99W; "uncountable numbers" in Blue Buttes on 25 Jul 1995. Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta (Linnaeus), 1758 Habitat: Sunlit patches in woodland clearings near nettles Larval food: Urtica Adult flight: Regular spring immigrant; does not survive winter References: Royer 76, Opler & Krizek 160, Scott 280 Confirmed occurrences: 17 Aug 1995 on BCV transect; 27 Jun 1995 in S24 T147N R99W. Buckeye Junonia coenia (Linnaeus), 1758 Habitat: Open prairies Larval food: Plantago, also various Scrophulariaceae and Verbenaceae Adult flight: Infrequent immigrant, may produce one or two broods in north, depending on arrival time; does not survive winter References: Royer 77, Opler & Krizek 162, Scott 276 Confirmed occurrences: Not reported from Little Missouri National Grassland in 1995 or 1996, but on record for Slope County, and as a southern immigrant that rarely does reach ND, it could be encountered anywhere in the badlands in open areas in a favorable year. White Admiral Basilarchia arthemis (Drury), 1773 Habitat: Woodland margins, often at Monarda or Apocynum blooms Larval food: Varied, mostly Populus; also Crataegus, Tilia, Amelanchier Adult flight: One brood, late June through July--on record from both McKenzie and Dunn Counties where it is a resident of sunny woodland margins and sunlit clearings in ash woodland. Rarely but occasionally sympatric and synchronous with congener B. weidemeyerii. References: Royer 77, Opler & Krizek 166, Scott 260 Confirmed occurrences: Not reported from Little Missouri National Grassland in 1995, but one male encountered near head of Summit transect S002, 9 Jul 1996. Viceroy Basilarchia archippus (Cramer), 1776 Habitat: In or near wet meadows with willows Larval food: Salix, possibly sometimes Populus Adult flight: Double-brooded, appearing in early June and early August References: Royer 78, Opler & Krizek 167, Scott 259 Confirmed occurrences: One example 24 Jul 1995 in S13 T136N R102W. Weidemeyer's Admiral Basilarchia weidemeyerii (W. H. Edwards), 1861 Habitat: Woodland breaks in badlands Larval food: Populus, Salix, Prunus Adult flight: One brood, appearing in late June through July References: Royer 78, Ferris & Brown 350, Scott 262 Confirmed occurrences: 19 Jun through 17 Jul 1995 on BCV transect and in S13 T136N R102W; 27 Jun and 10 Jul 1995 on Summit transect S001 and elsewhere in S24 T147N R99W; strangely uncommon, both Summit transects, 18 Jun through 9 Jul 1996.
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