A Comprehensive Annotated List of the Butterflies
Little Missouri National Grassland Butterfly Survey
The Whites and Sulphurs
Checkered White Pontia protodice (Boisduval and LeConte), 1829 Habitat: Disturbed open areas Larval food: Cruciferae, incl. Lepidium, Capsella, Barbarea Adult flight: Two, sometimes three broods, May, July, September References: Royer 39, Opler & Krizek 56, Scott 182 Confirmed occurrences: 18 Jul 1995 on Summit transect S001 and in S24 T147N R99W. Western White Pontia occidentalis (Reakirt), 1866 Habitat: Open prairie, especially on hilltops Larval food: Cruciferae, incl. Lepidium, Arabis, Sisymbrium Adult flight: Two broods, May, July References: Royer 39, Ferris & Brown 150, Scott 222 Confirmed occurrences: 25 Jul and 1 Aug 1995 in Blue Buttes. European Cabbage Butterfly Artogeia rapae (Linnaeus), 1758 Habitat: Ubiquitous in gardens and roadsides in agricultural areas Larval food: Cruciferae, occasionally also Capparidaceae Adult flight: Multiple broods, May-September References: Royer 40, Opler & Krizek 59, Scott 216 Confirmed occurrences: 24 Jul and 17 Aug 1995 on BCV transect and in S13 T136N R102W; 25 Jul 1995 in S24 T147N R99W; occasional both Summit transects in Aug 1996. Olympia Marble Euchloe olympia (W. H. Edwards), 1871 Habitat: Prairies and sage flats Larval food: Cruciferae, incl. Arabis, possibly also Sisymbrium Adult flight: One brood, May References: Royer 41, Opler & Krizek 157, Scott 215 Confirmed occurrences: 28 May and 5 Jun 1995 on BCV transect and in S13 T136N R102W; 29 May and 5 Jun 1995 on Summit transect S001 and in S24 T147N R99W; occasional both Summit transects 5 Jun 1996. Clouded Sulphur Colias philodice Godart, 1819 Habitat: Ubiquitous in agricultural areas Larval food: Legumes, esp. Trifolium spp., Medicago and Melilotus Adult flight: Multiple broods, May-September References: Royer 42, Opler & Krizek 64, Scott 198 Confirmed occurrences: Intermittent throughout badlands all season in 1995; again common on Summit transects throughout summer 1996. Orange Sulphur Colias eurytheme Boisduval, 1852 Habitat: Common in agricultural areas, though less so than philodice Larval food: Legumes, esp. Medicago, also Melilotus Adult flight: Multiple broods, May-September References: Royer 42, Opler & Krizek 65, Scott 196 Confirmed occurrences: Uncommon but widespread throughout badlands in both 1995 and 1996, especially near alfalfa. Queen Alexandra's Sulphur Colias alexandra W. H. Edwards, 1863 Habitat: Badlands; rarely encountered in ND Larval food: Wild legumes, incl. Astragalus, Hedysarum, Thermopsis Adult flight: Phenology unclear, June certainly, possibly also August References: Royer 42, Ferris & Brown 161, Scott 195 Confirmed occurrences: Not reported from Little Missouri National Grassland in 1995 or 1996, but historically on record from Dunn and Slope Counties. Most recent records are from Slope County (private), 6-22 June 1975 and the northeast slope of Bullion Butte, Billings County (federal), one female, 29 May 1994 (vouchered Royer).
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