A Comprehensive Annotated List of the Butterflies
Sullys Hill National Game Preserve Butterfly Survey
The Gossamer Wings
Great Copper Gaeides xanthoides (Boisduval), 1852 Habitat: Prairie meadows, ditches, disturbed areas Larval food: Rumex obtusifolius Adult flight: One brood, late June through July References: Royer 47, Opler & Krizek 83, Scott 391 Confirmed occurrences: Not recorded at Sullys Hill NGP in 1995 or 1996, but possible during June/July in any year on western hay meadow, roadside ditches, lower areas near dock. Bronze Copper Hyllolycaena hyllus (Cramer), 1775 Habitat: Open wet meadows with Polygonum or Rumex, pond margins, marshes, usually with neutral to alkaline soil pH Larval food: Rumex crispus, R. obiculatus, Polygonum spp. Adult flight: Two broods, June and August References: Royer 47, Opler & Krizek 84, Scott 388 Confirmed occurrences: Not recorded at Sullys Hill NGP in 1995 or 1996, but possible during June and August in any year near water with Rumex or Polygonum. Purplish Copper Epidemia helloides (Boisduval), 1852 Habitat: Wastelands, wet ditches, open fields; a vagile species Larval food: Rumex spp., Polygonum spp. Adult flight: Two broods, June and August References: Royer 49, Opler & Krizek 86, Scott 389 Confirmed occurrences: 1 Jul 1995 at NE corner of lake in marshy area. Coral Hairstreak Harkenclenus titus (Fabricius), 1793 Habitat: Scrub, esp. with Prunus, Crataegus and Asclepias Larval food: Prunus spp. Adult flight: One brood, July into August References: Royer 50, Opler & Krizek 89, Scott 360 Confirmed occurrences: 4 Aug 1995, two on nature trail (transect SH001); occasional along transect SH001 throughout Jul 1996. Acadian Hairstreak Satyrium acadicum (Fabricius), 1793 Habitat: Willow scrub in moist areas Larval food: Salix spp. Adult flight: One brood, late June, July References: Royer 50, Opler & Krizek 90, Scott 361 Confirmed occurrences: Not recorded at Sullys Hill NGP in 1995 or 1996, but possible during June/July in any year in wetter areas with willows. Edwards' Hairstreak Satyrium edwardsii (Grote & Robinson), 1867 Habitat: Scrub oak thickets, esp. in sandy or gravelly areas Larval food: Quercus macrocarpa in our area Adult flight: One brood, late June, July References: Royer 51, Opler & Krizek 91, Scott 364 Confirmed occurrences: one counted on nature trail (transect SH001) on 1 Jul 1995; fairly common along transect SH001 on 14 Jul 1996, especially near Apocynum blooms. Banded Hairstreak Satyrium calanus (Hübner), 1809 Habitat: Oak woodlands Larval food: Quercus macrocarpa in ND, also Juglans, Carya elsewhere Adult flight: One brood, late June, July References: Royer 51, Opler & Krizek 92, Scott 363 Confirmed occurrences: 1 Jul 1995, four counted on nature trail (transect SH001); 30 Jun 1996 on transect SH001. Striped Hairstreak Satyrium liparops (LeConte), 1833 Habitat: Oak woodlands, wooded breaks or thickets that include Amalanchier, Prunus, Crataegus; especially fond of Melilotus alba, Gypsophila blooms Larval food: Rosaceae, incl. Prunus, Crataegus, Amalanchier, etc. Adult flight: One brood, late June, July References: Royer 52, Opler & Krizek 94, Scott 362 Confirmed occurrences: Not recorded at Sullys Hill NGP in 1995, but several encountered on transect SH001 on 14 Jul 1996. Gray Hairstreak Strymon melinus (Hübner), 1818 Habitat: Brushy, weedy disturbed open areas; occasional Larval food: Widely varied, incl. Astragalus, Polygonum, Malva Adult flight: Two or three broods, May, July, September References: Royer 54, Ferris & Brown 264, Scott 383 Confirmed occurrences: Not recorded at Sullys Hill NGP in 1995 or 1996, but possible in any year at flowers. Eastern Tailed Blue Everes comyntas (Godart), 1824 Habitat: Humid open areas with legumes in eastern ND Larval food: Many legumes, incl. Trifolium, Vicia, Melilotus Adult flight: Three broods, May, July, September References: Royer 55, Opler & Krizek 114, Scott 395 Confirmed occurrences: Not recorded at Sullys Hill NGP in 1995 or 1996, but possible throughout the summer in any year in wooded areas with legumes. Western Tailed Blue Everes amyntula (Boisduval), 1852 Habitat: Humid, wooded areas with legumes, predominantly western ND Larval food: Many legumes, incl. Astragalus, Oxytropis, Trifolium Adult flight: Two broods, June and August (usually a smaller 2nd brood) References: Royer 55, Ferris & Brown 219, Scott 396 Confirmed occurrences: 13 Jun 1996 on transect SH001 (a new species on the Sullys Hill list). Spring Azure Celastrina argioilus (Linnaeus), 1758 Habitat: Most often associated with Amalanchier blooms in spring, Cornus in summer Larval food: Prunus in west; Cornus, Viburnum, etc. in north and east. This is actually a complex of sibling species the systematics of which are currently being worked out. We probably have two species in ND, differentiated by their larval hosts. Adult flight: The eastern taxon is bivoltine, flying in May and again in July; the western taxon is univoltine, flying only in May. References: Royer 56, Ferris & Brown 221, Opler & Krizek 116, Scott 396 Confirmed occurrences: 17 May and 3 Jun 1995 on transect and around lake (1st brood); 1 Jul 1995 by handicap trail on Cornus (2nd brood); 13 Jun 1996 on transect SH001; second brood fairly common in woods on transect SH001 on 14 Jul 1996. Silvery Blue Glaucopsyche lygdamus (Doubleday), 1841 Habitat: Open areas in or near woodlands Larval food: Legumes, incl. Lupinus, Astragalus, Hedysarum Adult flight: Widespread, late May through June, one brood only References: Royer 56, Opler & Krizek 119, Scott 399 Confirmed occurrences: 17 May, 3 Jun, and 11 Jun 1995 on transect (esp. along staircase trail north from NW corner of lake) and throughout open areas in woodland; 23 May through 24 Jun 1996 on nature trail (transect SH001). Melissa Blue Lycaeides melissa (Doubleday), 1841 Habitat: Open prairies Larval food: Legumes, incl. Lupinus, Astragalus, Oxytropis, Glycyrrhiza Adult flight: Two broods, June and August References: Royer 56, Ferris & Brown 202, Scott 407 Confirmed occurrences: 4 and 10 Aug 1995 in south end of west hay meadow. Saepiolus Blue Plebejus saepiolus (Boisduval), 1852 Habitat: Wooded clearings Larval food: Trifolium spp. exclusively Adult flight: One protracted brood, mid-June through July References: Royer 57, Ferris & Brown 204, Scott 408 Confirmed occurrences: Not recorded at Sullys Hill NGP in 1995 or 1996, but possible during June/July in any year.
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