Wisconsin Entomological Society Special Publication No. 5 February 2002 ( revised April 2011) CHECKLIST OF WISCONSIN BUTTERFLIES Leslie A. Ferge 1 This is an update of the previous Wisconsin checklist by Ferge (1990). Its purpose is to provide a compact reference on Wisconsin’s butterfly fauna, including a general account of distribution, occurrence, habitat and flight time. The nomenclature and arrangement of this checklist follows Pelham (2008). Hole and Germain (1994) delineated six major natural divisions of Wisconsin, based on characteristics of geology, soils and vegetation. These are described below and their location indicated in Figure 1. Although it appears that butterfly distribution correlates well with these natural divisions, this is not exact; the intent being to summarize the available data as briefly as possible. The range given for each species reflects the areas of most frequent and typical occurrence. 1. Lake Superior Lowland: A level to undulating glaciated plain formerly dominated by boreal forest of white spruce, balsam fir, white cedar, aspen and paper birch, but presently second growth forest similar to much of northern Wisconsin, with large peat bog and wetland areas. 2. Northern Highland: A rolling glaciated plain with mixed deciduous and coniferous forest. Maple, aspen, red pine and white pine are the major tree species. The region contains an abundance of lakes, extensive conifer swamps and peat bogs, and limited areas of pine barrens on dry, sandy soils. 3. Lake Michigan Shoreland: A level to rolling glaciated region with forests composed of sugar maple, basswood, elm, hemlock and beech at its western limit, with interspersed wetland communities. 4. Central Plains: A nearly level sand plain on a former glacial lake bottom on which the original open jack pine barrens and oak savanna have largely succeeded to closed forests. This is a rich transitional area, with a mixture of western prairie and northern forest elements. Extensive wetlands, ranging from sedge meadows to tamarack bogs occur. Although not indicated on the map, western Burnett County is closely similar to the Central Plains, with most characteristic butterfly species also found there. 5. Southeastern Ridges and Lowlands: A glaciated region of ridges, lowlands and moraines, now largely utilized for farmland, with forested areas containing maple, basswood, ash, elm and oak. Many wetland types are present, including sedge meadows and relic bogs. Limited prairie remnants also occur. 6. Southwestern Upland: A hilly, unglaciated region also known as the Driftless Area, dissected by river valleys. Once extensive areas of prairie and oak savanna are now farmland, with prairie remnants found mostly on steep, rocky sites and on sand plains along the Wisconsin River. The forested areas are composed of oak, hickory, basswood, maple, elm and walnut. Large areas of wet riverbottom forest occur in the lower Wisconsin and Mississippi River Valleys. Species Range Habitat Flight Time Status Family HESPERIIDAE (Skippers) Subfamily Eudaminae (Eudamine Skippers) Eparygyreus clarus (Cramer) Silver-spotted Skipper Statewide Open areas June & August Widespread Achalarus lyciades (Geyer) Hoary Edge 6 Open woods mid June-July Stray Thorybes bathyllus (J.E. Smith) Southern Cloudywing 5, 6 Open areas mid June-July Local Thorybes pylades (Scudder) Northern Cloudywing Statewide Forest trails June Widespread Subfamily Pyrginae (Pyrgine Skippers) Staphylus hayhurstii (Edwards) Hayhurst’s Scallopwing 6 Open areas August Stray Pholisora catullus (Fabricius) Common Sootywing 4, 5,6 Weedy openings June-September Widespread Erynnis icelus (Scudder & Burgess) Dreamy Duskywing Statewide Forest trails May-early June Common Erynnis brizo (Boisduval & LeConte) Sleepy Duskywing Statewide Forest trails May-early June Common Erynnis juvenalis (Fabricius) Juvenal’s Duskywing Statewide Forest trails May-early June Common Erynnis horatius (Scudder & Burgess) Horace’s Duskywing 5 Forest trails May & August Stray Erynnis martialis (Scudder) Mottled Duskywing 2, 4,6 Barrens May & late July Local Erynnis funeralis (Scudder & Burgess) Funereal Duskywing 5,6 Open areas July-October Stray Erynnis lucilius (Scudder & Burgess) Columbine Duskywing 6 Rocky hillsides May-September Local Erynnis baptisiae (Forbes) Wild Indigo Duskywing 4,6 Open areas May, August Local Erynnis persius (Scudder) Persius Duskywing 4 Barrens May Local Pyrgus communis (Grote) Common Checkered Skipper 4, 5,6 Weedy openings July-September Migrant Subfamily Heteropterinae (Intermediate Skippers) Carterocephaius palaemon mandan (Edwards) Arctic Skipper 1,2, 3,4 Moist woods early June Widespread Subfamily Hesperiinae (Branded Skippers) Ancyloxypha numitor (Fabricius) Least Skipper Statewide Wetlands mid June-September Widespread Oarisma powesheik (Parker) Powesheik Skipperling 5 Wet prairies early July ENDANGERED Thymelicus lineola (Ochsenheimer) European Skipper Statewide Grassy openings mid June Common Amblyscirtes hegon (Scudder) Pepper and Salt Skipper 1,2, 3, 5 Forest trails early June Local Amblyscirtes vial is (Edwards) Roadside Skipper 2, 4, 6 Dry openings May & July Widespread Nastra Iherminier (Latreille) Swarthy Skipper 6 Dry Prairies late August Stray Lerodea eufala (Edwards) Eufala Skipper 5 Dry openings August-September Stray Hylephila phyleus (Drury) Fiery Skipper 4, 5, 6 Grassy openings late July-Septmeber Migrant Hesperia comma laurentina (Lyman) Laurentian Skipper 1,2 Open areas late July Local Hesperia ottoe (Edwards) Ottoe Skipper 6 Dry prairies July Local Hesperia leonardus leonardus (Harris) Leonard’s Skipper 2, 4, 6 Sand prairie, barrens late August Local Hesperia metea (Scudder) Cobweb Skipper 2, 4 Barrens May Local Hesperia sassacus (Harris) Indian Skipper Statewide Open areas early June Widespread Polites peckius (Kirby) Peck’s Skipper Statewide Open areas June & August Common Polites themistocles (Latreille) Tawny-edged Skipper Statewide Open areas June & August Common Polites origenes (Fabricius) Crossline Skipper 4, 5, 6 Prairies late June-July Local Polites mystic (Edwards) Long Dash Statewide Open areas late June-July Common Wallengrenia egeremet (Scudder) Northern Broken Dash 4, 5, 6 Moist openings July Common Pompeius verna (Edwards) Little Glassywing 5, 6 Moist openings late June Local Atalopedes campestris (Boisduval) Satchem Statewide Open areas early June Migrant Atrytone arogos (Boisduval & LeConte) Arogos Skipper 5 Dry prairie early July Historic record Problema byssus (Edwards) Byssus Skipper 6 Dry to mesic prairie early July Local Poanes hobomok (Harris) Hobomok Skipper Statewide Forest trails early June Common Poanes massasoit (Scudder) Mulberry Wing 3, 4, 5, 6 Sedge meadows mid July Local Poanes viator (Edwards) Broad-winged Skipper 4, 5 Sedge meadows mid July Local Anatrytone logan (Edwards) Delaware Skipper Statewide Open areas July Widespread Euphyes conspicua (Edwards) Black Dash 3, 4, 5, 6 Sedge meadows mid July Local Euphyes dion (Edwards) Dion Skipper Statewide Sedge meadows mid July Local Euphyes bimacula (Grote & Robinson) Two-spotted Skipper Statewide Wetlands mid July Local Euphyes vestris metacomet (Harris) Dun Skipper Statewide Open areas July Common Atrytonopsis hianna (Scudder) Dusted Skipper 4, 6 Sand prairie, barrens May-early June Local Family PAPILIONIDAE (Swallowtails) Battus philenor (Linnaeus) Pipevine Swallowtail 3, 5 Open areas July Stray Eurytides marcellus (Cramer) Zebra Swallowtail 4, 5 Open areas June-August Stray Papilio polyxenes asterias Stoll Black Swallowtail Statewide Open areas May-September Widespread Papilio cresphontes (Cramer) Giant Swallowtail 5, 6 Open areas May, August Widespread Papilio glaucus (Linnaeus) Eastern Tiger Swallowtail 4, 5, 6 Forest trails May, August Widespread Papilio canadensis (Rothschild & Jordan) Canadian Tiger Swallowtail 1, 2, 3 Forest trails early June Common Papilio troilus (Linnaeus) Spicebush Swallowtail 5, 6 Forest trails June-July Stray Family PIERIDAE (Whites and Sulphurs) Subfamily Coliadinae (Sulphurs) Nathalis iole (Boisduval) Dainty Sulphur Statewide Weedy openings June-September Migrant Eurema mexicana (Boisduval) Mexican Yellow 6 Open areas late June-August Stray Abaeis nicippe (Cramer) leepy Orange 5, 6 Open areas June-August Stray Pyrisitia lisa (Boisduval & LeConte) Little Yellow Statewide Open areas July-September Migrant Colias philodice (Godart) Clouded Sulphur Statewide Open areas May-September Common Colias eurytheme (Boisduval) Orange Sulphur Statewide Open areas May-September Common Colias interior (Scudder) Pink-edged Sulphur 1, 2, 4 Barrens, bogs mid June & August Widespread Zerene cesonia (Stoll) 5, 6 Dry prairies late June-September Migrant Southern Dogface Phoebis sennae (Linnaeus) Cloudless Sulphur 5, 6 Open areas July-September Migrant Phoebis agarithe (Boisduval) Large Orange Sulphur 6 Open areas August Stray Phoebis philea (Linnaeus) Orange-barred Sulphur 5 Open areas July-September Stray Subfamily Pierinae (Whites, Marbles and Orangetips) Anthocharis midea (Hubner) Falcate Orangetip 5 Dry open areas mid May Stray Euchloe olympia (Edwards) Olympia Marble Statewide Dry sandy areas May Widespread Pieris oleracea (Harris) Mustard White 1,2, 3, 4,5 Forest openings May & July Widespread Pieris virginiensis (Edwards) West Virginia White 2,3 Damp forests early May Local Pieris rapae (Linnaeus) Cabbage White Statewide Open areas late April-September Common Pontia protodice (Boisduval & LeConte) Checkered White Statewide Weedy openings June-September Migrant Pontia occidentalis (Reakirt) Western Checkered White 2 Open areas September Stray Family LYCAENIDAE (Harvesters, Coppers, Hairtreaks and Blues) Subfamily Miletinae (Harvesters) Feniseca tarquinius (Fabricius) Harvester Statewide Wet woods late May-August Local Subfamily Lycaeninae (Coppers) Lycaena phlaeas (Linnaeus) American Copper Statewide Dry open areas may-August Widespread Lycaena dione (Scudder) Gray Copper 4, 5,6 Open areas late June Local Lycaena hyllus (Cramer) Bronze Copper Statewide Damp open areas June, August Local Lycaena epixanthe michiganensis Rawson Bog Copper 1,2, 3,4 Open bogs early July Local Lycaena dorcas (Kirby) Dorcas Copper 1,2,3 Open bogs early July Local Lycaena helloides (Boisduval) Purplish Copper Statewide Wetlands July Local Subfamily Theclinae (Hairstreaks and Elfins) Satyrium titus (Fabricius) Coral Hairstreak Statewide Open areas July Widespread Satyrium acadica (Edwards) Acadian Hairstreak Statewide Wetlands early July Local Satyrium edwardsii (Grote & Robinson) Edwards’ Hairstreak Statewide Open oak woods early July Widespread Satyrium calanus falacer (Godart) Banded Hairstreak Statewide Open oak woods early July Common Satyrium caryaevorus (McDunnough) Hickory Hairstreak 5, 6 Forest edges early July Local Satyrium liparops strigosa (Harris) Striped Hairstreak Statewide Forest edges early July Local Callophrys gryneus (Hubner) Juniper Hairstreak 4,6 Red cedar areas mid May & July Local Callophrys augustinus (Westwood) Brown Elfin 1,2, 3, 4 Barrens, bogs May-early June Common Callophrys polios (Cook & Watson) Hoary Elfin 2, 4 Barrens May Local Callophrys irus (Godart) Frosted Elfin 4 Barrens May ENDANGERED Callophrys henrici (Grote & Robinson) Henry’s Elfin 2, 4 Barrens, bogs May Local Callophrys niphon clarki (Freeman) Eastern Pine Elfin 2, 4, 6 Jack pine areas May Local Strymon melinus (Hubner) Gray Hairstreak Statewide Open areas May-August Migrant Strymon istapa (Reakirt) Mallow Hairstreak 6 Open areas late August Stray Parrhasius m-album (Boisduval & LeConte) White M Hairstreak 3 Open areas August Stray Erora laeta (Edwards) Early Hairstreak 3 Beech forests mid May unknown Subfamily Polyommatinae (Blues) Leptotes marina (Reakirt) Marine Blue 5, 6 Dry prairies July Stray Cupido comyntas (Godart) Eastern Tailed Blue Statewide Open areas May-September Common Cupido amyntula (Boisduval) Western Tailed Blue 2 NW dry areas late May Local Celastrina lucia (Kirby) Spring Azure Statewide Forests May, July Widespread Celastrina serotina Paavulan & D. Wright Cherry Gall Azure 2 Open forests early June possibly widespread Celastrina neglecta (Edwards) Summer Azure Statewide Forests May, July Widespread Glaucopsyche lygdamus couperi Grote Silvery Blue Statewide Dry openings May Widespread Echinargus isola (Reakirt) 4, 5, 6 Dry prairies late June-August Migrant Reakirt’s Blue Plebejus idas nabokovi (Masters) Northern Blue 2 NE barrens early July ENDANGERED Plebejus melissa melissa (Edwards) Melissa Blue 2 Open areas St. Croix County late May & August Local Plebejus melissa samuel is (Nabokov) Karner Blue 4 Barrens late May & August ENDANGERED Plebejus saepiolus (Boisduval) Greenish Blue 1,2 Open areas mid June Local Family RIODINIDAE (Metalmarks) Calephelis muticum McAlpine Swamp Metalmark 5 Fens, wetlands mid July ENDANGERED Family NYMPHALIDAE (Brush-Footed Butterflies) Subfamily Libytheinae (Snout Butterflies) Libytheana carinenta (Cramer) American Snout 5, 6 Low forests August-September Migrant Subfamily Danaidae (Milkweed Butterflies) Danaus plexippus (Linnaeus) Monarch Statewide Open areas mid May-September Migrant Subfamily Limentidinae (Admirals) Limenitis arthemis arthemis (Drury) Banded Purple 2, 3,4 Forest trials June & August Common Limenitis arthemis astyanax (Fabricius) Red-spotted Purple 4, 5, 6 Forest trails June & August Widespread Limenitis archippus (Cramer) Viceroy Statewide Wetlands June & August Widespread Subfamily Heliconiinae (Heliconians and Fritillaries) Agraulis vanillae (Linnaeus) Gulf Fritillary 4, 5 Open areas June-September Migrant Euptoieta claudia (Cramer) Variegated Fritillary Statewide Open areas June-September Migrant Boloria eunomia dawsoni (Barnes & McD.) Bog Fritillary 1,2 Open bogs mid June Local Boloria selene (Schiffermuller) Silver-bordered Fritillary Statewide Wetlands late May & August Widespread Boloria bellona (Fabricius) Meadow Fritillary Statewide Open areas May-September Widespread Boloria frigga saga (Staudinger) Frigga Fritillary 1,2 Open bogs late May Local Boloria freija (Thunberg) Freija Fritillary 1,2 Open bogs mid to late May Local Boloria characlea grandis (Barnes & McD.) Arctic Fritillary 1 Open bogs early August Local Speyeria cybele (Fabricius) Great Spangled Fritillary Statewide Moist openings mid June-August Widespread Speyeria aphrodite (Fabricius) Aphrodite Fritillary Statewide Prairie, barrens late June-August Widespread Speyeria idalia (Drury) Regal Fritillary 4, 5, 6 Dry prairies July-September ENDANGERED Speyeria atlantis (Edwards) Atlantis Fritillary 1,2, 3, 4 Forest trails mid June-July Widespread Subfamily Apaturinae (Emperors) Asterocampa celtis (Boisduval & LeConte) blackberry Butterfly 4, 5,6 Low forests June & August Local Asterocampa clyton (Boisducal & LeConte) Tawny Emperor 4, 5, 6 Low forests late June-July Local Subfamily Nymphalinae (Thistle Butterflies, Tortoise Shells, Anglewings, Buckeyes, Checkerspots and Crescents) Vanessa virginiensis (Drury) American Lady Statewide Open areas May-September Widespread Vanessa cardui (Linnaeus) Painted Lady Statewide Open areas May-September Migrant Vanessa atalanta (Linnaeus) Red Admiral Statewide Open areas May-September Migrant Vanessa virginiensis (Drury) American Lady Statewide Open areas May-September Widespread Aglais milberti (Godart) Milbert’s Tortoise Shell Statewide Open areas July-May Widespread Nymphalis l-album j-album (Bdv. & LeConte) Compton Tortoise Shell Statewide Forest trials July-May Widespread Nymphalis californica (Boisduval) California Tortoise Shell 3 Open forest July-May Stray Nymphalis antiopa (Linnaeus) Mourning Cloak Statewide Forest trials July-May Widespread Polygonia interrogationis (Fabricius) Question Mark Statewide Forest trials July-May Widespread Polygonia comma (Harris) Eastern Comma Statewide Forest trails July-May Widespread Polygonia satyrus (Edwards) Satyr Comma 1,2 Forest trails July-May Sporadic Polygonia progne (Cramer) Gray Comma Statewide Forest trails July-May Widespread Polygonia faunus (Edwards) Green Comma 1,2 Forest trails July-May Local Junonia coenia (Hubner) Common Buckeye Statewide Open areas May-September Migrant Euphydryas phaeton (Drury) Baltimore Statewide Welands July Local Chlosyne nycteis (Doubleday) Statewide Open areas May-September Common Silvery Checkerspot Chlosyne gorgone carlota (Reakirt) Gorgone Checkerspot 4, 5, 6 Prairie, barrens May-September Local Chlosyne harrisii (Scudder) Harris’ Checkerspot 1,2, 3, 4 Wetlands June Local Phyciodes tharos (Drury) Pearl Crescent 4, 5, 6 Open areas June; August-September Common Phyciodes cocyta (Cramer) Northern Pearl Crescent 1,2, 3, 4 Open areas June-mid July Common Phyciodes batesii (Reakirt) Tawny Crescent 1,2, 3, 4 Dry sandy areas June Local Subfamily Charaxinae (Leaf Butterflies) Anaea andria (Scudder) Goatweed Butterfly 5 Forest trails August Stray Subfamily Satyrinae (Satyrs and Wood Nymphs) Enodia anthedon (A. H. Clark) Northern Pearly Eye Statewide Forests July Common Lethe eurydice eurydice (Linnaeus) Eyed Brown Statewide Wetlands July Widespread Lethe eurydice fumosa (Leussler) Smoky Eyed Brown 4, 5,6 Prairie wetlands July Local Lethe appalachia R. Chermock Appalachian Eyed Brown Statewide Swamp forests July Widespread Coenonympha tullia inornata (Edwards) Common Ringlet 1,2, 3, 4, 6 Grassy openings mid June Common Megisto cymela (Cramer) Little Wood Satyr Statewide Forest openings June Common Cercyonis peg ala nephele (Kirby) Common Wood Nymph Statewide Open areas late June-August Common Erebia discoidalis (Kirby) Red-disked Alpine 1,2 Open bogs late May Local Oeneis jutta ascerta (Masters & Sorenson) Jutta Arctic 1,2,4 Bog conifer forest early June Widespread Oeneis chryxus strigulosa (McDunnough) Chryxus Arctic 2 Barrens late May Local LITERATURE CITED Ferge, Leslie A. 1990. Checklist of Wisconsin Butterflies. Wisconsin Entomological Society Special Publication No. 1. Hole, Francis D. and Clifford E. Germain. 1994. Natural Divisions of Wisconsin. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Pelham, Jonathan P. 2008. A Catalogue of the Butterflies of the United States and Canada. Journal of Reasearch on the Lepidoptera, Volume 40. 1 7119 Hubbard Avenue, Middleton, Wisconsin 53562-3231 email: lesferae@gmail.com