Butterflies of Mesa Verde National Park,
Montezuma County, Colorado

Boris Kondratieff, Paul Opler, and Michael Weissmann
Colorado State University

PAPILIONIDAE-Swallowtails

Papilio machaon bairdii - Old World Swallowtail

Papilio indra near kaibabensis - Indra swallowtail

Papilio multicaudatus - Two-tailed Swallowtail

Papilio zelicaon - Anise Swallowtail

PIERIDAE-Whites and Yellows

Subfamily PIERINAE-Whites: Anthocharis thoosa - Southwestern Orangetip; Euchloe lotta - Desert Marble; Pieris rapae - Cabbage White; Pontia beckerii - Becker's White; Pontia protodice - Checkered White; Pontia sisymbrii - Spring White

Subfamily COLIADINAE - Sulphurs and Yellows: Colias alexandra Edwards - Alexandra Sulphur; Colias eurytheme (Boisduval) - Orange Sulphur; Colias philodice Godart - Clouded Sulphur

LYCAENIDAE-Gossamerwings

Subfamily LYCAENINAE - Coppers: Lycaena arota (Boisduval) - Tailed Copper; Lycaena helloides - Purplish Copper; Lycaena heteronea (Boisduval) - Blue Copper; Lycaena nivalis - Lilac-edged Copper ??

Subfamily THECLINAE - Hairstreaks: Atlides halesus - Great Purple Hairstreak; Callophrys comstocki - Desert Green-Hairstreak; Callophrys gryneus - Juniper Hairstreak; Satyrium behrii - Behr's Hairstreak; Strymon melinus (Huebner) - Gray Hairstreak

Subfamily POLYOMMATINAE - Blues: Brephidium exile - Western Pygmy-Blue; Celastrina ladon - Spring Azure; Euphilotes battoides - Western Square-Dotted Blue; Euphilotes spaldingi - Spalding's Dotted-Blue; Glaucopsyche lygdamus - Silvery Blue; Glaucopsyche piasus - Arrowhead Blue; Hemiargus isola - Reakirt's Blue; Icaricia icarioides - Boisduval's Blue; Lycaeides melissa - Melissa Blue

NYMPHALIDAE-Brushfoots

Subfamily LIBYTHEINAE - Snouts: Libytheana carinenta - American Snout

Subfamily HELICONIINAE - Heliconians: Speyeria callippe - Callippe Fritillary; Speyeria edwardsii - Edwards' Fritillary

Subfamily MELITAEINAE - Checkerspots: Chlosyne gorgone - Gorgone Checkerspot; Chlosyne palla - Northern Checkerspot; Euphydryas anicia - Variable Checkerspot; Phyciodes campestris - Field Crescent; Phyciodes batesi anasazi - Tawny Crescent; Phyciodes pallidus barnesi - Pallid Crescent; Poladryas arachne - Dotted Checkerspot; Thessalia fulvia - Fulvia Checkerspot

Subfamily NYMPHALINAE - Brushfoots: Limenitis weidemeyerii - Weidemeyer's Admiral; Nymphalis antiopa - Mourning Cloak; Vanessa cardui - Painted Lady; Vanessa annabella - West Coast Lady

Subfamily SATYRINAE - Wood-Nymphs and Satyrs: Cercyonis oetus - Dark Wood-nymph; Cercyonis pegala - Common Wood-nymph; Cercyonis sthenele - Great Basin Wood-nymph

Subfamily DANAINAE - Royalty: Danaus plexippus - Monarch

HESPERIIDAE-Skippers

Subfamily PYRGINAE: Erynnis afranius - Afranius Duskywing; Erynnis brizo - Sleepy Duskywing; Erynnis pacuvius - Pacuvius Duskywing; Erynnis persius - Persius Duskywing; Erynnis telemachus - Rocky Mountain Duskywing; Pyrgus communis - Common Checkered-Skipper; Zestusa dorus - Short-tailed Skipper

Subfamily HESPERIINAE: Hesperia colorado - Western Branded Skipper; Hesperia juba - Juba Skipper; Hesperia viridis - Green Skipper; Poanes taxiles - Taxiles Skipper

Subfamily MEGATHYMINAE: Megathymus yuccae - Yucca Giant-Skipper

Erroneously reported from Mesa Verde National Park

Thorybes diversus - Western Cloudywing

References Brown, F.M., Eff, D., and B. Rotger. 1951. Colorado Butterflies. Denver Museum of Natural History, Denver. Colo. 367 pages.

We acknowledge the assistance of the staff at Mesa Verde National Park including Marilyn Colyer, Resource Biologist and George San Miguel, Chief Resource Biologist